Gezicht op Harderwijk, 1672 1900 - 1903

Editor: This graphite drawing, "Gezicht op Harderwijk, 1672," attributed to the Frères Moreau, really captures the sense of industry and life surrounding the town. I am really drawn to the visible strokes of the pencil; it makes it look raw. What do you see in this piece? Curator: I see a detailed documentation of the landscape, and immediately think of its production. How the artist utilizes the material itself is interesting here. Consider the choice of graphite—a readily available material, accessible to a broader segment of society, used to meticulously depict this scene. Editor: How does the graphite shape how you view it? Curator: Exactly! It democratizes landscape art by relying on something common and reproductive. The fine detail, achieved through the labor-intensive application of graphite, reveals the relationship between artistic skill and the production of a reproducible image of a city, like maybe it’s preparation for a printed cityscape. Do you see how the pencil allows for the inclusion of architectural elements as the drawing gives you different planes from the environment surrounding it. What is being shown here is industry. Editor: That's a fresh perspective. The visible lines and simplicity now speak of the labor of documentation and pre-production of material. This changes my view from industry and life in the city to industry and life creating art depicting this. Thank you. Curator: Absolutely, viewing art through the lens of materials and making really brings forth unseen dimensions of labor. The intention is clear, whether they choose something simple and cost effective like graphite for easy reproduction. I'm glad that brought insight for you as well.