Toren van de Zuiderkerk te Enkhuizen c. 1841 - 1865

Editor: Here we have "Tower of the Zuiderkerk in Enkhuizen," a pencil drawing on paper by Petrus Johannes Schotel, dating back to sometime between 1841 and 1865. It’s interesting how simple the composition is, with the barest indication of the landscape. What’s your perspective on this piece? Curator: From a materialist viewpoint, the drawing is interesting for what it reveals about artistic labor. The choice of humble materials - pencil and paper - suggests a work conceived perhaps as preliminary, a sketch meant for further development. What kind of social context fostered this kind of artwork, in which drawing was just a preparation step? Editor: It looks like a page from a sketchbook. Does the medium influence the subject matter, perhaps suggesting something fleeting? Curator: Precisely. The readily available, inexpensive materials align with the sketch’s inherent purpose of immediacy. I wonder how the means of artistic production were structured at the time Schotel was active? Was drawing something more accessible to all than, say, painting? Did these sketches also perform specific roles within artistic circles? Editor: I see what you mean. It is a peek behind the scenes of artistic creation, to look at the materials of his craft. I hadn't considered that angle before. Curator: And also consider who had access to the paper, the pencils. It's not simply the talent, it's also access. Editor: So, by focusing on the materials and their availability, we can gain insights into artistic practice and its accessibility at the time. Thanks. Curator: Indeed. It shifts the focus from mere aesthetics to production and consumption.