Jason op de vliegende ram 1818

This drawing, Jason op de vliegende ram, was made by Elisabeth Kemper, a Dutch noblewoman who lived in the 19th century. Kemper made this drawing, like so many others, with the simplest of means: paper, ink, and practiced hand. The scene is rendered with very fine lines, almost like an engraving. See how the artist uses hatching to create the illusion of shadow. This creates a sense of depth, bringing the figures to life. The image shows the mythological figure Jason, riding on a flying ram, in pursuit of the Golden Fleece. Consider the context of this drawing. Kemper was an aristocratic woman, who almost certainly did not need to work for a living. Her artmaking was thus an activity of leisure, a signifier of social status. The choice of subject matter – a scene from classical mythology – speaks to this privileged position, as it is a reflection of the cultural capital of the elite. It’s a reminder that even seemingly simple drawings can be understood in relation to the social and economic conditions of their making.