Voorstudie voor het portret van Maria Croon 1763 - 1833

Jordanus Hoorn made this preparatory study of Maria Croon using black and white chalk on blue paper. Chalk is a relatively direct medium, allowing for both quick sketching and subtle shading. The blue paper provides a mid-tone, so the artist only needs to add highlights and shadows to create form. Here, the material’s properties beautifully capture the texture of Maria’s elaborate dress. Consider the layers of fabric, the lace trim, and the way light catches on the silk. The drawing hints at the immense labor involved in producing such a garment. We can imagine the spinners, weavers, dyers, and seamstresses who contributed their skills to create the dress, and the labor of the laundress who would care for it. Thinking about the drawing in relation to the dress, it prompts us to consider the material culture of the 18th century, the way objects reflect social status, and the vast network of labor involved in even a seemingly simple portrait.