Portret van Alexandre Batta 1879

Editor: Here we have Auguste Danse's 1879 pencil drawing, "Portret van Alexandre Batta," housed in the Rijksmuseum. It's a strikingly simple portrait; the subject's gaze feels quite intense, but I'm curious what strikes you most about it? Curator: I am immediately drawn to the method of production. Think about the social context here: academic art prized skill, but also operated within specific markets. How does a *drawing*, using a readily available and affordable material like pencil, position itself within those hierarchies? Is it a study, a preliminary sketch for something grander? The inscription implies some sense of a limited time offering as well... Editor: So you’re wondering about its role within Danse’s overall practice and the art world at the time. I hadn't considered that the material itself makes a statement. Curator: Precisely! Pencil wasn’t precious like oil paint or bronze. It was the tool of draftsmen, illustrators, even amateurs. Does its existence challenge the divide between high art and mere craft or reproduction? Was this an affordable edition made for the sitter to have multiple copies, thus raising issues of commodification and audience access in portraiture at the time? Editor: That really shifts my perspective. It’s no longer just a portrait of a person, but a portrait of art-making in a specific time. It opens so many avenues for questions related to process and accessibility. Curator: Indeed. Think about the labor involved – the artist’s hand, the accessibility of the medium to a broader population… What new ideas does this perspective raise for you regarding portraiture? Editor: I’ll certainly never look at pencil drawings the same way again. The context surrounding the materials completely changes my understanding. Thanks so much!