View of Slot Kenenburg, Seen from the North-west c. 1646 - 1647

Roelant Roghman made this drawing of Slot Kenenburg, a castle in the Netherlands, using pen and brown ink with a grey wash. Notice how Roghman used the wash to create tonal variations, building a sense of volume and depth. The paper, likely handmade and relatively coarse, would have provided a slightly textured surface, influencing how the ink was absorbed. Pen and ink drawings like this one were a vital part of the printmaking process. A skilled draughtsman would create a detailed image such as this, which would then be translated into a print. The drawing, therefore, operates in a broader economy of image production. It reminds us that what appears to be a simple work on paper is in fact a document of the social and economic conditions of 17th century Holland. It prompts us to consider all of the hands and processes involved in its creation and dissemination.