Het verlaten van de herberg 1751 - 1799

Jacob Cats created this drawing depicting a scene outside an inn using pen and brown ink, with a grey wash. The fluid, sweeping lines and tonal variations achieved with the wash capture the bustling atmosphere of a nighttime departure. The ink, likely iron gall ink, has aged to a warm brown, lending an antique feel, while the grey wash adds depth and shadow, highlighting the emotional drama of the scene. Note how the application of ink and wash is not just descriptive, but expressive; Cats uses these materials to full effect, conveying a narrative of departure and despair. This connects the drawing to a broader tradition of narrative art, but also to the more immediate social context of 18th-century life, with its contrasts of wealth and poverty, and all the work it took to keep the world turning. By focusing on materials and their skillful manipulation, we see how this drawing transcends mere representation, becoming a poignant commentary on its time.