A Farm Building; verso: Head of a Woman and Slight Sketch of Woman Holding a Child 1580 - 1651

Abraham Bloemaert made this drawing of a farm building with pen and brown ink, over black chalk, with brown and gray wash. The texture and tones of the artwork clearly show the way these humble materials are used to depict the subject: a simple country dwelling. Look closely and you can see how the thatch roof is rendered with loose strokes of the pen, evoking its coarse, organic nature. The walls of the building are suggested by rough-hewn logs, captured with quick, dark lines. Notice the wheelbarrow resting against the building. It reminds us that the landscape is not just a pretty view, but a site of labor. Bloemaert was interested in the everyday lives of peasants, emphasizing the dignity of their work through his attention to tools and buildings. He wasn't just making a picturesque scene. He was acknowledging the crucial role of agriculture in society, and valuing the labor that sustained it. In doing so, Bloemaert elevates the status of both the farmers and the land.