Ontwerp voor een tafelstuk of inktstel c. 1650 - 1675

This drawing for a centerpiece or inkstand was made on paper by the Master of the Blue Wash. The paper support is activated by the artist through the skilled application of pen and ink, with blue wash. The material qualities of the drawing are evident in the delicate lines and shading, which convey the texture and form of the proposed sculptural object, with enslaved figures seated on a decorative base, supporting a standing warrior. The artist engaged with skilled traditions of draftsmanship and design, employing techniques to create a visually compelling and evocative composition. The proposed inkstand itself may have been manufactured from precious metals such as silver, which would require an even wider skillset of chasing, casting, and polishing. The very subject of the artwork, with the enslaved figures, alludes to wider social issues of labor, politics, and consumption. Considering materials, making, and context is key to understanding the full meaning of an artwork, and challenging traditional distinctions between fine art and craft.