Ontwerp voor een wandschildering in de zijkamer bij Hendrik Wessels c. 1780

This is Jurriaan Andriessen’s design for a wall painting in the side room of Hendrik Wessels. It was made with pen, brush, and watercolor. Andriessen was a specialist in precisely this kind of decorative painting. Note how the design is conceived as a total environment, with the painted panels carefully coordinated with the architecture of the room. The scenes themselves are idyllic – evoking a polite, cultivated vision of the Dutch landscape. Yet, the painting itself would have been just one element in a complex interior, filled with furniture, textiles, and other objects, all contributing to an overall effect of luxury. The labor required to produce such an interior, from Andriessen’s design to the work of numerous other artists and artisans, speaks volumes about the social context in which it was made – a world of wealth, trade, and refined taste. It’s a reminder that even the most seemingly simple design can be a window onto a whole world of making.