Binnenplaats met man en vrouw 1813 - 1859

Lambertus Johannes Hansen created this drawing of a farmyard scene with pen in ink. It is the very act of drawing that gives this artwork its character. Hansen employed the repetitive process of stippling, or building up an image from tiny dots. See how the application of ink creates texture, especially in the thatched roof, and the piled hay? This labor-intensive technique, where light and shadow are built dot by dot, invites us to consider the amount of time and effort required of both the artist and the farming family. The image is carefully constructed, almost like the building of the farm itself. It's worth thinking about the social context too. In representing this scene, Hansen elevates the depiction of rural life. By appreciating this work, we also recognize the value in the everyday, and challenge any rigid separation between high art and the art of common life.