Tekenaar aan het werk, van opzij gezien 1715 - 1765

Carle van Loo created this drawing of a draughtsman at work using black and red chalk, heightened with white. The image offers us a glimpse into the artistic process, inviting us to consider the social conditions that enable art production. Van Loo was working in France during the 18th century, a time when the Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture held significant influence, shaping artistic taste and careers. Think of this drawing as a product of that system. The draughtsman depicted here is not a lone genius, but a skilled worker honing his craft, very likely within an academic setting. The drawing prompts questions about who had access to artistic training, what was considered worthy of representation, and how the art market operated. By studying such images alongside archival sources, we can gain insights into the complex social and institutional networks that supported artistic creation in the past.