Finding of Moses c. 17th century

Editor: This sketch, “Finding of Moses,” attributed to the Manner of Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijn, is a flurry of lines on paper. What can we learn from its production and materials? Curator: The rapid strokes suggest a preliminary study. Look closely at the paper: its quality, its likely source. How does the act of drawing, the immediate translation of thought to paper, influence the narrative's construction? Editor: So, focusing on the sketch's function, rather than just its aesthetic qualities? Curator: Precisely. Consider the social context of paper production in Rembrandt's time. Who had access to it? How does that inform our understanding of artistic creation and dissemination? Editor: That shifts my perspective completely! I will need to consider the economic and social landscape surrounding artistic materials.