Man en twee vrouwen in een keuken bij het vuur 1650 - 1699

Editor: So, this drawing, "Man en twee vrouwen in een keuken bij het vuur," from the late 17th century, made with pencil, it’s quite fascinating! It looks like a simple genre scene, but I’m curious about what’s going on beyond the surface. What can you tell me about it? Curator: Let's think about this pencil drawing's making, it is interesting the artist used that material, a cheaper material when oil painting was regarded to a more 'prestige' way of artistic production. It’s tempting to view this simply as a preparatory sketch. But is it just that? Look closely at the details, the light, shadow play on the figure to the left, the treatment of space with a degree of detailing… Where do you think such scene exists, how would be its society? Editor: Hmm, perhaps a study on how life looked like at those times... focusing not on nobles, but instead normal people? And could the use of pencil show its purpose to democratize Art for all? Curator: Exactly. The drawing is more than a draft, pencil enabled a certain portability, in expense of losing texture that would have been created with paint and brush. Do you notice how they interact, both materially with the fire and among themselves, probably around to fulfill domestic and family needs? Who produced the charcoal to feed the fire and heat, the garments they wear? The artist seems very engaged in their reality. How that everyday reality in material is portrayed as drawing could tell a story, what do you think? Editor: I never thought of the artwork that way! I was too focused on its formal qualities instead of the artistic practice... thinking what that would have meant to common people. This makes me want to dig deeper. Curator: Precisely! By paying attention to materials and modes of production we challenge existing power dynamics in Art. Focusing on the artwork from what it depicts allows us a connection that is so overlooked nowadays.