Italianate Landscape with Ruins, Woman and Donkey n.d.

Jan Both made this drawing of an Italianate Landscape with Ruins, Woman and Donkey in the mid-17th century. Executed in pen and brown ink, with brown wash over graphite on laid paper, this work exemplifies the materiality of art as social history. Both masterfully renders the textures of the crumbling ruins, the soft fur of the donkey, and the distant foliage. The use of brown ink and wash gives the scene a warm, earthy tone, evoking the Italian countryside. But beyond its aesthetic appeal, this drawing provides insight into the social and economic conditions of its time. Both captures a moment of everyday life amidst the grandeur of ancient ruins. The presence of the woman and donkey highlights the contrast between the opulence of the past and the labor-intensive realities of the present. This work invites us to consider the relationship between art, labor, and the built environment, challenging the traditional hierarchy between fine art and the craft of everyday life.