Zwevende cherubijnen met een bloemenmand 1722 - 1737

Jacob de Wit made this drawing of floating cherubs with a flower basket, with pen in brown ink, brush in brown and gray, and gray wash on paper. The drawing is a study, a preliminary sketch for what would become a larger, more finished work. This is evident in the sketchy lines and the limited color palette. De Wit was known for his 'witjes', or 'whiteys' - paintings of classical scenes in grisaille, in shades of grey, made to imitate stucco work. This drawing would be part of the making of those paintings. The quick strokes suggest that de Wit worked rapidly, capturing the essence of the scene rather than meticulously rendering every detail. The cherubs are chubby and playful, their forms rendered with a few deft strokes. The basket of flowers is suggested rather than fully defined, adding to the sense of spontaneity. Considered as part of a process, the drawing is part of a wider system of production and consumption, where labor is divided and value is added at each stage. De Wit's skill as a draughtsman, his ability to capture form and movement with a few lines, was a valuable commodity. The drawing then bridges the worlds of fine art and craft, where skill and technique are valued.