Vulcanus c. 1701

Jacob Toorenvliet created this drawing of Vulcanus with pen and ink on paper. The choice of ink as a medium is significant: ink is quick, immediate, perfect for capturing a fleeting idea. The artist’s skill is evident in the confident strokes that define the figure’s musculature. See how the linear hatching evokes the texture of skin and fabric. But the real subject here is labor. Vulcan, god of the forge, is usually shown with the tools of his trade: hammer, anvil, tongs. Here, the artist has focused on the moment of action. Notice the hammer raised high, the foot planted firmly on a helmet, suggesting the immense physical effort required for his craft. This rendering of the blacksmith god elevates the laboring body, transforming the everyday into the heroic. It reminds us that even in the realm of mythology, creation is born from the sweat of one’s brow. In so doing, Toorenvliet invites us to look beyond the finished object, to see the value and toil embedded within.