Drie staande mannen 1668 - 1671

Editor: This is "Drie staande mannen" by Jan de Bisschop, created between 1668 and 1671. It's currently housed in the Rijksmuseum. The piece looks like an ink drawing of three standing men, but what strikes me is the different approaches to rendering their robes. How do you interpret this work, and its different artistic approaches to clothing? Curator: It's compelling to consider de Bisschop's work through the lens of materials and production. Notice the varying line weights achieved through what appear to be pen and ink. The labor invested in each figure suggests an exploration of different drawing techniques, almost like studies. We can also think about the consumption of artistic knowledge here – are these copied from other artworks, intended for instructional use themselves, or purely experiments with materiality? Editor: So you are saying that the variations in technique might be more about the 'how' than the 'who' being depicted? Curator: Precisely. Rather than focusing solely on the identities of these figures, consider the act of making itself. How does the artist's process – his choices of ink, pen, paper, the application of line – contribute to the overall meaning? Are the robes depicted, perhaps commentary of what and how individuals can materially present themselves in society? This focus on the means of production and the materials involved pushes us beyond traditional art historical questions of iconography and attribution. Editor: That’s a really interesting way of looking at it. It's like each figure is an exercise in exploring different material capabilities. Curator: Exactly! And in doing so, de Bisschop elevates the role of craft and technique to the forefront, challenging us to think critically about what constitutes "high art." Editor: I never considered looking at a drawing this way, but thinking about the physical process and materials used definitely sheds new light on it. Thank you! Curator: My pleasure. Considering the materiality of art often reveals hidden layers of meaning.