Gezicht op een tuinvijver en een fontein met triton 1715 - 1798

Editor: So, this drawing, "Gezicht op een tuinvijver en een fontein met triton," attributed to Dionys van Nijmegen and dating sometime between 1715 and 1798, it’s made with pencil. The wispy lines give it an unfinished quality. What strikes you when you look at this drawing? Curator: I'm immediately drawn to the paper itself and the marks made upon it. Consider the labour involved, even in a 'simple' drawing. Who produced the paper? Was it locally sourced? How did its texture influence the artist's line? This informs the creation of art, challenging our notions of what constitutes 'high art' versus craft. Editor: That's an interesting way to approach it! I hadn’t thought about the actual production of the paper before. But, shouldn’t we also consider the image itself and what it shows, a carefully laid-out garden? Curator: Of course. Look at the fountain, the central feature. How was that constructed? What materials were available to create it, and who would have been employed to build and maintain it? These physical manifestations of power and leisure reveal social stratifications of the time. Consumption becomes very apparent. Editor: So, you’re seeing the drawing as an artifact documenting a specific type of societal production and lifestyle? Curator: Precisely. It is not simply about aesthetics but the entire network of labor and materials required to realize this vision. Look at the deliberate mark making to suggest light falling onto stone and water, or the implications for its maintenance – a dedicated work force to manicure every branch and clean every surface. Can you imagine the social implications on surrounding environment or even community ? Editor: It gives me a new appreciation for the image to view this drawing not just as a picture, but almost as a record of an era's consumption habits and labor force. I had not considered that before. Thanks! Curator: And, for me, considering its place as drawing expands it – it brings this artwork away from romantic vision. Now how to act.