Insigne van Sint-Rochus 1841

This drawing of a design for a Saint Rochus Insignia was made by Guillaume Joseph Vertommen, using pen and paper. The design is not just an image, but also a set of instructions. The drawing is quite technical in its emphasis on ornamentation, with angels and foliage framing the central figure of the saint. Vertommen was probably trained as a craftsman himself, and he would have understood the challenges of translating a two-dimensional design into a three-dimensional object. The skill that is needed to produce an object like this should not be overlooked. The drawing is a document of production, and it reminds us that all objects, even religious ones, are the result of labor. By focusing on the labor and skill involved in the making of objects, we can begin to break down the traditional distinctions between fine art and craft.