Church Interior 1619 - 1663

Editor: So, this is "Church Interior" by Hans Jurriaensz van Baden, created sometime between 1619 and 1663. It's a drawing done with pen, charcoal, and wood. The lines really draw my eye down the long corridor. What stands out to you about it? Curator: I see a detailed study of material constraints. Consider the price of charcoal, pen, and wood relative to the paper, which affects the scale. Then think about the artisan, van Baden. Was this preparatory, made to showcase skills for potential commissions? Editor: Possibly. It does feel very precise, almost like an architectural plan. But is it fine art if it has some application? Curator: Here, we must question the very notion of 'fine art.' This piece showcases craftsmanship and perhaps served a utilitarian purpose. The social status of labor here is of immense significance. Was van Baden seen as an artist, an artisan, or something in between? And who consumed his work? Was this for an aristocratic patron who dictated materials, or did he have more agency over the finished piece? Editor: That’s a different way of looking at it. So it’s not just the church itself but the whole system of creating the image we need to understand. The artist and their commissioner? Curator: Exactly! This interplay between production, social expectations, and materiality shapes not only what we see but also our understanding of its value. Editor: Thinking about the value that way gives the artwork more depth. Curator: Indeed. We discover there is more than one story, when we trace back to materials and production means, including cultural considerations, too.