Trekvaart en koepel van Caan aan de vaart van Den Haag naar Delft c. 1785 - 1837

Editor: This is "Trekvaart en koepel van Caan aan de vaart van Den Haag naar Delft," a pencil drawing by Ernst Willem Jan Bagelaar, dating from around 1785 to 1837. It has this wonderful, delicate feel; it's clearly a sketch. What jumps out to you when you see this piece? Curator: Well, immediately, the materiality grabs my attention. It's pencil on paper, which suggests a quick, portable mode of production. Not an oil painting meant for a salon, but a readily produced commodity. What does this suggest about the artist's intent and potential audience? Was this intended for sale, or personal use? Editor: Hmm, I guess that’s right! It's not monumental, right? But it is skillfully done! It's a whole landscape in miniature. Curator: Exactly. Consider the role of the pencil itself, industrialized graphite, readily available during the period. Not charcoal made at home but a manufactured thing sold, and bought, so consider who had access to this tool and the resources for art-making? Then look at the windmills; they're part of the productive landscape. What is the relationship between this drawing and industrialization? It’s not just about the beauty, is it, but also a reflection of these technological advances? Editor: So, it’s like, not *just* about the pretty scene, but also who could make art, how they did it, and what it shows about Dutch industry and its effect on landscape, yes? Curator: Precisely! We see the means of production depicted within the scene and enacted in its making. Also note the inscription. A kind of authorship and provenance is included and meant for our observation as much as for later identification of the place depicted! Editor: That really reframes how I'm looking at this; seeing it as an object connected to a system rather than just a depiction. Thanks! Curator: And thanks for your observation, seeing and situating work like this offers such potential.