Opschik 1893

This is "Opschik," made by Alfred Ronner, using ink on paper. Ronner used hatching and cross-hatching to create depth and volume in this interior scene. The density of lines shapes the women’s dresses, and the objects within the room, such as the clock, the window, and the stairs in the background. It’s a drawing of the everyday, and it’s about the relationship between the image and the process that shaped it. The subject appears to be women engaged in a craft, judging by the materials they hold. But the image itself is also evidence of skilled labor, as the artist used fine, detailed lines to create light and shadow, texture, and form. Consider this drawing not just as a representation, but as an artifact in itself. It bears witness to the careful actions of the artist, and elevates the value of craft and the daily lives of these women.