Gerechtigheid en Goedertierendheid 1735

Jacob de Wit made this drawing, "Justice and Kindness," probably in the 1730s, using pen and brown ink, brush and gray wash, with white opaque watercolor on paper. The artist used traditional drawing materials to create a preparatory sketch. The gray wash creates tonal variations, while the white watercolor highlights forms. The artist has used thin lines and broad strokes to create this sketch. It is full of movement and energy; it is not a static depiction. Here, we can see De Wit experimenting with the expressive qualities of the ink. Look at the scales and rods near the feet of Lady Justice. The sketch demonstrates the artist's command of materials and methods and would have been essential to producing a successful painting or fresco. The drawing's loose and informal approach challenges traditional distinctions between fine art and craft. The artist's process is essential to understanding the artwork's full meaning.