Romaans kapiteel 1831 - 1904

Arnoud Schaepkens made this drawing of a Romanesque capital, at an unknown date, using graphite and possibly ink on paper. The medium of drawing allows Schaepkens to intricately detail the stone capital that may have taken artisans weeks or months to carve. The texture of the stone is delicately rendered through hatching and cross-hatching techniques, giving the flat surface a sense of depth. These techniques demonstrate the artist’s careful consideration of the material and the labor-intensive process involved in creating architectural elements. This drawing acts as a record, preserving a moment in time and giving attention to a cultural artifact rooted in labor, politics, and consumption, all of which are crucial to understanding its full meaning. It reminds us that even seemingly functional objects carry a wealth of history and craftsmanship within them.