Bomen langs een weggetje 1776 - 1822

Jan Hulswit made this drawing, Bomen langs een weggetje, at an unknown date, using graphite on paper. Graphite is a relatively modest material, but capable of great subtlety in the right hands. Look closely, and you’ll see the artist varies the pressure and density of his marks, giving a real sense of three-dimensionality to the foliage. Drawings like this were typically made in preparation for engravings, which is in fact how Hulswit made his living. The etching process allowed artists to create multiple copies of an image, which could then be sold relatively cheaply. This was a major change in the world of art making; no longer was visual culture only for the wealthy. Artists like Hulswit helped to develop a new, more democratic audience for art. So, while this image may seem simple, it represents a crucial shift in the production and consumption of art, one that has only accelerated over time.