Het Huis Oldenhuis te Vollenhove 1730

Cornelis Pronk rendered "Het Huis Oldenhuis te Vollenhove" using pen and brown ink, with a grey wash, around 1730. Here, Pronk is doing more than just depicting a building; he's also capturing the essence of labor and class. The detailed rendering, achieved through the meticulous application of ink and wash, speaks to Pronk's skill and the time invested in the piece. The choice of materials themselves – humble ink and paper – contrasts with the grandeur of the subject matter: a substantial, towered house. This contrast highlights the social context of the artwork. Pronk has created a kind of advertisement for the house. Every line and shadow is calculated to convey the wealth and status associated with the dwelling. The labor is all Pronk’s; yet its effect is to evoke the labor that would have been necessary to construct and maintain the house. Ultimately, this work reminds us that even seemingly simple drawings can reveal complex relationships between materials, labor, and social status. It challenges the traditional hierarchy between fine art and craft, inviting us to consider the social implications embedded in the act of making itself.