Hand die een stok vasthoudt 1710 - 1772

Petrus Johannes van Reysschoot created this drawing of a hand holding a stick in the 18th century. It’s a study, a preparation, a moment in the working life of an artist. In the 1700s, art academies across Europe were formalizing their teaching methods, and the use of drawing became central. By sketching from life or copying existing images, artists aimed to master form and anatomy. These academies, supported by the state, shaped artistic production and taste, promoting certain styles and subjects. In the Dutch Republic, the art world operated without a strong central academy. Artists, often working independently or in smaller workshops, responded more directly to the demands of the market. To fully understand this drawing, we can delve into archival records of artists' workshops, the inventories of collectors, and the publications that circulated artistic ideas. The meaning of this work resides in its historical context, in the world of artistic training and production.