Ruins by a Woodland Stream 

Paulus van Liender made this drawing, "Ruins by a Woodland Stream," using pen and brown ink, with gray wash, on paper. The effect is quite painterly. Liender has used the fluidity of the ink to capture the interplay of light and shadow, creating a soft focus. The labor here is in the careful application of the wash, building up the image layer by layer. Yet this is not photorealism. The artist chose to focus on the textures of nature, particularly the way that the trees seem to be taking over the ruins, and how light filters through the leaves. The subject of ruins was very popular during the 18th century. They evoke the passage of time, a nostalgia for the past. And with the rise of industrialization, there was also a sense that nature was being lost, and that needed to be recorded. It reminds us that artistic skill can be found in many different contexts. It challenges the traditional distinctions between fine art and craft, inviting us to appreciate the artistry in every creative process.