Toren bij Schoonhoven 1701 - 1759

Cornelis Pronk made this drawing of a tower in Schoonhoven with graphite on paper. The graphite, easily layered and erased, allowed the artist to quickly capture the scene before him. Pronk's rapid application of the medium captures the rough texture of the tower's masonry. The graphite appears to be applied in short, gestural strokes, giving the tower a sense of volume. Lightly sketched trees add context to the structure. It's a scene of the everyday, observed. While this work does not evidence the labor-intensive processes often associated with craft, it embodies the role of drawing in 18th-century Dutch society. Pronk and other artists produced topographical views like this in great quantities, for a growing market of consumers. In effect, they were creating a record of the cultural landscape. The drawing's accessibility, in both its technique and subject matter, blurs the lines between high art and practical documentation. Ultimately, by considering the materials, the making, and the context, we gain a deeper understanding of this deceptively simple work.