Studie af siddende mand (hovedet kun antydet) samt to detailstudier af hænder 1625 - 1677

Heinrich Dittmers made this chalk drawing of a seated man, with studies of hands, sometime in the mid-17th century. The sketch gives us a glimpse into the artistic practices of the Dutch Golden Age. At this time, the Netherlands was a hub of artistic innovation. With the rise of a wealthy merchant class, artists found new patrons outside the traditional circles of the church and aristocracy. This created a demand for secular subjects, such as portraiture and genre scenes, moving away from grand historical or religious painting. In this environment, artists like Dittmers were able to focus on capturing everyday life and the individual character of their sitters. Drawings like this one would have been crucial for artists to develop their skills in capturing anatomy and expression. This piece can tell us about the way artists trained in the period, and how the structures of the art world evolved. Archival research helps us understand how these pieces functioned within artistic and social networks.