De kerk van het dorp Ingen Possibly 1750 - 1757

Curator: Looking at Jan de Beijer's drawing, "De kerk van het dorp Ingen," possibly made between 1750 and 1757, one is struck by how serene it appears. Like a half-remembered dream, somehow. Editor: It feels incredibly efficient, almost industrial, despite the picturesque subject. Notice how the repeated use of straight lines builds up the church – the repetitive action involved in making those marks is tangible. Curator: You’re right, there is a mechanical quality to it, in contrast to, say, the romantic flourish you might expect from that era. Still, the overall composition, the gentle slope of the path leading to the church… there's a real sense of humble devotion. Editor: I see labor reflected in every line. The pen strokes build the volume not just of the church, but also imply the physical effort required to produce and maintain this social institution. I think there is a fascinating relationship between the drawing and the production process that needs exploring. Curator: Perhaps that labor echoes in the daily lives of the villagers too, with their humble routines and simple aspirations, you know? The sketch’s quick and rather unsentimental style becomes this reflection on daily effort. I see the entire work as kind of elegy in grayscale! Editor: Right, think about the materials. This isn’t some precious oil painting. It’s ink on paper, cheap and readily available, materials for everyday transactions, just like this village. It reminds you how materials mediate our experiences! Curator: I’m now considering its fleeting quality—a quick capturing of a place, but so lovingly made. We have the physical manifestation of observation right here in front of us. It really brings home that art is everywhere; even just sketched onto a humble piece of paper, you know? Editor: Well, Jan de Beijer, here, in creating the piece emphasizes material as the starting point to discuss religion and also landscape at the time and place the work belongs to. It makes us wonder, what the real inspiration might be here?