Twee studies van een staande man 1841

Here is an 1841 drawing by Pieter van Loon, made with graphite on paper. The artist has created two studies of a standing man. Van Loon has used a humble material - graphite - to render his subject in careful detail. You can see in the texture of the lines how the artist has patiently built up tones and contours to describe this figure. The drawing allows us to reflect on the social context of the artwork. The man’s garments and wooden clogs suggest someone from the working classes. The soft, forgiving qualities of graphite has allowed the artist to create an empathetic likeness of this man, without idealizing him. The artwork raises questions about the value we place on different kinds of labour, both physical and creative, and invites us to reconsider the traditional hierarchies of art and craft.