Ontwerp voor raam met wapen in het stadhuis te Amsterdam 1878 - 1938

Editor: Here we have Richard Roland Holst's "Ontwerp voor raam met wapen in het stadhuis te Amsterdam," dating from between 1878 and 1938, a drawing in ink, stain, and possibly other media on paper. I find the combination of the rigid geometric shapes with the softer washes of color to be quite striking. What stands out to you in this design? Curator: What grabs my attention is Holst’s choice of materials. Ink and stain on paper are hardly the expected media for a civic commission like a stained-glass window. Consider the labor involved; a drawing, likely one of many, acting as a template. This suggests a clear division of labor, with Holst as the conceptualiser and others tasked with the physical production using the “higher” material of stained glass. Does that challenge the conventional art-craft divide for you? Editor: It does! I hadn’t considered that. I was so focused on the symbolism and the Art Nouveau style. The use of drawing almost feels like a blueprint, which diminishes its preciousness as a final work. It's interesting that the drawing becomes a disposable element in the grand scheme of things. Curator: Exactly. The materiality of this preparatory sketch reflects the hierarchical art world. It’s a commodity produced to facilitate a larger, arguably more 'important' piece, which will inevitably also rely on systems of production and, ultimately, consumption. Do you think the context of its commission for the Amsterdam Town Hall adds another layer? Editor: Absolutely. The town hall represents the civic power structure. So the whole process, from initial sketch to installed window, embodies a network of labor, material value, and social power. I hadn’t really looked at it that way. Curator: Precisely! Seeing art through the lens of its production and material existence offers a different, yet valuable, perspective. Editor: I'll definitely be looking at materials in a whole new light now. Thanks!