Gezicht te Biggekerke 1791

Jan Bulthuis made this drawing of Biggekerke in 1791 with pen and brush, using grey ink on paper. Bulthuis's choice of materials is very telling. While oil paint was seen as the proper medium for high art, pen, ink, and paper were typically associated with the more demotic practices of drawing and printmaking. The precision afforded by pen and ink, especially when wielded with the skill Bulthuis demonstrates here, lends itself to capturing the architectural details and the everyday life of the village with great clarity. The grey ink, carefully applied with both pen and brush, creates a tonal range that gives depth and atmosphere to the scene. The linear quality of the drawing style emphasizes the structures and the figures within it, suggesting the order and industry of rural life. The drawing captures a moment in time, yet it also reflects the broader social context of labor and community in the late 18th century Netherlands. Bulthuis elevates the ordinary through close observation and technical skill, bridging the gap between the fine and applied arts.