Buste van Wilhelmina van Pruisen 1824 - 1845

Henricus Wilhelmus Couwenberg made this drawing of Wilhelmina van Pruisen, using pencil on paper, sometime in the first half of the 19th century. The choice of pencil offers a directness, a sense of immediacy, compared to other more formal media like oil paint or marble. But within that apparent simplicity, we can read Couwenberg’s careful labor. The drawing is all about line: thin, precise, and used to build up the volume and texture of Wilhelmina’s face and clothing. The cross-hatching and layering of strokes suggests a meticulous approach, building up tone and shadow gradually. It's almost like he’s sculpting with the pencil. The drawing is not just a representation of Wilhelmina, but an index of Couwenberg’s skill. The physical act of drawing, the hours spent hunched over the paper, are all embedded within the finished image. It prompts questions about the value of skilled labor, and how artistic processes can transform humble materials into objects of cultural significance.