Abklatsch van de krijttekening op pagina 5 recto 1848 - 1888

This image shows us a transfer of a chalk drawing on paper, made by Anton Mauve in the late 19th century. The medium itself tells a story. Chalk is a humble material, readily available and easy to use. Its accessibility made it ideal for preliminary sketches and studies. Yet the process of creating a transfer, an Abklatsch, elevates the status of the original drawing. It allows for duplication, circulation, and preservation of the image. It transforms the drawing into something more akin to a print. This act of reproduction highlights a tension between the unique artistic gesture and the potential for mass production. While the original chalk drawing may capture the immediacy of the artist's hand, the transfer introduces the possibility of dissemination, aligning the artwork with the burgeoning culture of reproduction and consumption in the 19th century. Thinking about the materials and making of this work helps us to understand the changing status of art in the industrial era.