Engelengroep 1705 - 1754

Curator: At first glance, there is something truly innocent about this piece, evoking serenity and light-heartedness. Editor: Indeed, this is "Engelengroep", or "Group of Angels," a drawing executed in ink on paper by Jacob de Wit sometime between 1705 and 1754. Curator: It is a stunning work that emphasizes the artist’s skill and materials: the laid paper with its slight texture, and the use of sanguine ink, that gorgeous reddish-brown. It immediately brings warmth to the group. Editor: Absolutely, and De Wit occupies an important space in the history of art. During his time, his workshop provided the means to create beautiful artworks intended for display within civic and religious settings. Curator: The etching highlights a process rooted in tradition—paper meticulously crafted and the precise hand guiding the stylus. Note the economy of line; it is stunning. And the layering suggests so much dimension, even though it's all on a flat plane. It challenges notions of craft versus “high art,” raising questions about labor, workshop practices, and ultimately, how the finished product functioned within 18th-century culture. Editor: You raise fascinating points. I’m particularly intrigued by the lack of religious settings here; these are genre paintings intended to create accessible, and pleasing imagery. How do images like this function in society to further the role of the museum and collection-making, legitimizing certain styles, themes and subjects? Curator: It almost feels that by creating the ‘Engelengroep,’ De Wit offered access to paradise on earth through materials crafted with care. Editor: Considering its context broadens its importance as both an artistic endeavor, as well as a glimpse into social structures and elite collections of the era.