Gezicht op de basiliek van Saint-Mathurin in Larchant 1638

This is an undated, anonymous view of the Saint-Mathurin basilica in Larchant, created using ink on paper. The anonymous artist has deployed a common technique from the pre-photographic era, using line drawing and watercolor washes to create a believable likeness. In a society without mass-produced images, this kind of artisanal skill was in high demand, and served as a crucial visual record. What is striking about this artwork is that although the labor required to produce it is obvious, it presents the town as a place from where labour has been erased. The town is presented as if it is an ornament sitting within the landscape. The artist has taken pains to be highly descriptive, yet we cannot help but feel the absence of the people who built the basilica, and lived and toiled in Larchant at the time. It reminds us that all images, however seemingly objective, are the result of choices, both about what to include, and what to leave out.