Sheet of Studies with Six Figures c. 1643 - 1646

Editor: This is Isaac van Ostade's "Sheet of Studies with Six Figures." It's a pen and brown ink drawing. The figures almost seem to huddle together. What compositional elements stand out to you? Curator: The upper grouping certainly provides a counterpoint to the larger mass below. Consider the dynamism implicit in the diagonal orientation versus the static grouping below. Editor: So, you're saying the artist used placement to create movement and stillness? Curator: Precisely. The application of line, too, is telling; observe how the bolder lines define the foreground figures. What might that signify? Editor: I see it now! The density of line creates a sense of depth. Thanks for pointing that out. Curator: My pleasure. It is through such formal strategies that Ostade constructs meaning.