Labyrint 1788 - 1808

This drawing, Labyrint, was made by Jan Brandes sometime between 1743 and 1808, using ink on paper. The lines, rendered with precision, show the schematic of a maze, complete with a small structure at its center. The thinness of the lines suggests a quill pen, with which the artist carefully built up a complex network of forking paths. What’s interesting is that there are annotations within the maze itself, indicating the correct route, a series of tiny marks that the artist must have added. This suggests that the work may have been intended as more than just an image, but as a puzzle for a game, like the ones that were printed in newspapers to pass the time. In any case, the image shows the kind of careful labor that was a constant part of pre-industrial life. Whether art, craft, or design, it’s the dedication of the maker that ultimately defines the work.