Man op stoel 1875 - 1900

Editor: Here we have "Man op stoel," created sometime between 1875 and 1900, attributed to Jan de Waardt. It's a pencil drawing, and it feels very…immediate, almost like a snapshot. What strikes you about it? Curator: I’m immediately drawn to the physical labor embedded within this "snapshot." The seemingly simple pencil strokes belie the hand of the artist – consider the physical act of mark-making, the graphite ground against the paper. What kind of pencil did de Waardt use? Where did the paper come from? These are not neutral materials. Editor: I hadn't thought of it that way, but it's true, every material tells a story. Do you think the choice of pencil and paper were deliberate statements? Curator: Absolutely. Paper wasn't always widely available. The scale suggests a specific function; perhaps a study for a larger painting or intended for personal use? We should also consider the sitter's attire. What does it tell us about his class, profession, or daily labor? Even the chair – its construction and material – reflects broader societal structures. Editor: That makes me wonder, were images like this also a commodity of some sort? Were they sold, traded, or just made for practice? Curator: A great question. The accessibility of drawing as a medium meant a proliferation of images. Understanding the market for these images, their consumption and circulation, reveals a network of social and economic relationships, influencing de Waardt and other artists during this period. Editor: I'm definitely going to look at drawings differently now, not just at the image itself, but also thinking about the context in which they were made. Thanks! Curator: And I'm reminded how essential these 'simple' works on paper are in understanding an artist's broader practice. Considering labor, material, and market transforms our understanding of art history.