Figuren bij een afscheiding c. 1860 - 1866

Cornelis Springer made this pencil drawing, "Figuren bij een afscheiding"–Figures by a partition–on paper. The artist has used a pencil, and the graphic economy of line suggests that this work represents a moment in time. It’s immediacy encourages us to think about the tradition of drawing as one that has evolved over centuries. Springer has captured a fleeting moment in the lives of working people, and we feel the weight of labor and production, captured in their seated pause. The artist’s choice of pencil on paper allowed for quick, precise marks that were also economical, reflecting the value placed on time and resources. Drawing as a traditional art form involved the mastery of tools and techniques, a skill in itself that has developed alongside other creative practices, reflecting the broader cultural and social contexts of their creation. Focusing on the materials and processes, the act of making art becomes more than just a creative pursuit, and the meaning is enhanced when we consider the social and economic conditions in which it was made.