De Vondelstraat te Amsterdam 1870 - 1926

Editor: This is "De Vondelstraat te Amsterdam," a drawing made with ink by Willem Wenckebach, sometime between 1870 and 1926. I’m immediately struck by how precisely he captured the buildings; it feels so solid, almost architectural. What’s your take on it? Curator: It's fascinating to consider the context of ink as a medium for representing a rapidly modernizing urban space. Think about the shift from artisanal production to industrial processes happening then. Ink, a relatively accessible material, becomes a tool to document, and perhaps even critique, this transition. How does the drawing style affect your perception of labor and its relation to the society depicted? Editor: Hmm, I hadn’t thought of it that way. The detail makes me think of painstaking labor, which seems at odds with the mechanized transport of the tram. Is he showing the old and the new clashing? Curator: Exactly. Consider the materiality of the drawing itself. The deliberate application of ink to create a photorealistic image of the city’s architecture also invites reflection of Dutch commerce. What do the social class of the architecture and public works project mean during that time period in Dutch history? Editor: I suppose those grand buildings weren’t built by just anyone. This ink drawing suddenly feels more complex, like a statement about labor, materials, and the changing urban environment. It almost feels like Wenckebach is questioning the impacts of that society on labor. Curator: Precisely! It's through understanding the production process that we can better understand the cultural meaning behind the artwork, especially its commentary on class structure. What does this materiality of a relatively simple medium reveal about Wenckebach’s intent and possible audience? Editor: I’m starting to think that the relative accessibility of ink, versus say, oil paints, could point to him addressing a broader audience, not just the elite. I never thought about the medium making such a statement itself! Thanks, this has definitely expanded how I think about art.