De H. Rochus met hond en engeltje 1600 - 1659

Curator: Here we have a drawing titled "De H. Rochus met hond en engeltje," or "Saint Roch with Dog and Angel," attributed to Simon Vouet, likely created sometime between 1600 and 1659. It’s held in the Rijksmuseum's collection. Editor: Oh, it has such a light touch, almost ethereal. The toned paper really lends to that dreamy quality, like a half-remembered vision. Curator: It’s a pencil drawing on toned paper, yes. Vouet employed quite delicate pencil work here. Drawings such as this provide fascinating insight into the workshops and creative process. They highlight the role of the hand, the skilled labor involved in artistic production. It showcases an early stage, revealing his thought processes as he worked towards a final composition. Editor: Definitely feels like a sketchbook piece, spontaneous and immediate. Saint Roch seems caught in a moment, perhaps contemplating his next journey. There’s a vulnerability despite his saintly status, with the angel so protective, as is the loyal dog at his side. It's interesting, all in graphite, that the texture seems so varied. Curator: The materiality speaks volumes about access and availability. Pencil drawings became increasingly common as paper production and graphite mining evolved. The level of detail is intriguing when viewed through the lens of labor conditions and material availability. Who had access to paper? How much did a stick of graphite cost? The drawing isn't just about artistic skill but also economic circumstances that supported its creation. Editor: I suppose. It's less about economic access for me; the drawing has such intimacy, and a directness only a pencil allows, doesn't it? Curator: Exactly. We see him experimenting, but grounded within a specific time, place, and the socioeconomic systems influencing artistic creation. Considering such drawings as material objects allows a discussion about the consumption of art, display in collections and market dynamics, not just the creative aspect, don't you agree? Editor: Yes, indeed. I’ll see if the gift shop has a pencil… Maybe inspiration will strike. Curator: Always worth a try. It's an intriguing artifact in which to reflect on Saint Roch’s place in Vouet’s output as a record of a society that produced and valued this type of drawing.