Zittende vrouw met boek Possibly 1851 - 1853

Lambertus Lingeman drew this seated woman with a book using pencil and watercolor. It’s clear he wasn’t interested in high polish, but rather in capturing a sense of lived reality. Notice the economical use of line, and how the bare paper serves to complete the composition. Look closely at the way Lingeman has built up tone with hatching, allowing the pencil to communicate the textures of the woman’s clothing, especially her patterned skirt. The touches of watercolor subtly animate the figure, drawing our eye. Drawings like this one remind us that all works of art are in fact works of labor, whether that labor is highly apparent or concealed behind an illusion of effortlessness. Lingeman’s image allows us to appreciate the skill of the hand, and reminds us of the value of craft in all creative practices.