Bouwwerkzaamheden in een vliering 1782 - 1837

Editor: This is Pieter Barbiers’ "Bouwwerkzaamheden in een vliering," a pen and ink drawing made sometime between 1782 and 1837. I'm struck by how immediate it feels; the thin lines capture a fleeting moment of labor. What can you tell us about it? Curator: Well, the title translates to "Construction work in an attic," and it's fascinating because it draws attention to the very process of building. The material reality of construction, the physical labor, is what Barbiers is centering. Consider the means of production – the simple pen and ink, versus the complex structure they're building. What does that contrast suggest to you? Editor: It almost feels like a blurring of the lines between high art and craft. He's elevated everyday labor into something worth depicting with artistic skill, drawing with pen instead of just…building. Curator: Precisely. Think about the social context. This was a period where traditional hierarchies between artistic expression and manual labor were being challenged. Barbiers makes no attempt to ennoble or idealize this activity; he shows it as is. What does focusing on that mundane act communicate? Editor: It almost democratizes the act of creation, suggesting that there's beauty and value in all forms of making, whether it's art or building a structure. It feels quite radical, considering the period. Curator: Exactly. Barbiers pushes us to think about who is doing the work, how they’re doing it, and what it all signifies beyond its functional purpose. Considering labor, materiality, and representation, what are your final thoughts? Editor: I now see this work as not just a drawing of construction, but a statement on the value of labor itself, and a glimpse into the changing attitudes toward different forms of work. Thank you. Curator: My pleasure. Looking closely at process changes our understanding of purpose, doesn’t it?