Vijf putti met een banderol 1684 - 1753

Jan de Lairesse made this drawing of five putti with a banderol sometime between 1673 and 1716, using pen and brown ink, and brush in gray. The monochrome palette here is particularly interesting. It almost anticipates photography, giving the work a mechanical feel, despite the freehand drawing. Lairesse’s use of these materials speaks to a transition in the art world, where the rise of printmaking and reproductive technologies began to influence even unique works on paper. It is no longer simply about the artist's hand, but also about the potential for dissemination and mass consumption. It’s tempting to think about this drawing in relation to the industrial revolution, which was just around the corner at the time. Lairesse was clearly thinking about the market for his work, and how it could be multiplied and distributed. It marks a shift in the status of the artwork, from a unique object to a repeatable commodity.