Groep figuren in zeventiende-eeuwse kleding c. 1846 - 1882

Cornelis Springer created this watercolor sketch of figures in seventeenth-century clothing. Note how the artist has used the watercolor medium. The thin, translucent washes of color allow the white of the paper to shine through, creating a sense of light and airiness. Look at the way he suggests the textures of the clothing with quick, gestural brushstrokes. The rough, unfinished quality of the sketch gives us a sense of immediacy, as if we are witnessing a scene unfolding before our eyes. The clothing tells a story of class and labor. The well-dressed figures in their elaborate costumes contrast sharply with the figure pushing the wheelbarrow, whose plain garb speaks of hard work and manual labor. This contrast serves as a reminder of the social hierarchies that were prevalent in the 17th century, and indeed, in Springer's own time. The artist's choice of subject matter and his skillful manipulation of the watercolor medium invite us to consider the relationship between materials, making, and social context in understanding the artwork's full meaning.