Schaap Possibly 1657 - 1761

Curator: What a peculiar texture. Almost sculpted. Editor: Indeed. We’re looking at “Schaap,” possibly created between 1657 and 1761. It's attributed to Marcus de Bye and resides here at the Rijksmuseum. A pen and ink drawing, wouldn’t you agree? The scale lends it an almost intimate feel, despite the commonplace subject matter. Curator: The precision in rendering the wool’s varied density— it transcends mere observation. It’s almost…conceptual. See how de Bye uses the stark contrast to build the volume, playing with negative space to define form? There is tension created by these visual weights, drawing the eye up and across the composition. Editor: But isn’t it the artist’s manipulation of the very tools at hand that interests you more? This looks like a prepared pen and aged ink on laid paper. Notice how he drags the point creating a dry brush texture across the form indicating depth of fleece, and scratches-out tufts of hair in contrast to areas of short precise controlled hatches? It is the deliberate use of material that interests me. Curator: It's difficult to ignore the tension in the work itself, a balance between rustic simplicity and profound attention to form. Editor: The labor involved is fascinating— a repetitive, almost meditative process resulting in an image both mundane and uniquely precious. And think of the context: a pastoral scene rendered with the precision of an artisan. This drawing makes me think about a direct connection to craft. Curator: True, and the horizon line almost bisects the image, forcing a dialogue between the animal form and the expansive sky… Editor: Perhaps such close looking reveals the intrinsic value of labor and material alongside formal harmony? Curator: Certainly. One is invited to appreciate the art’s inherent composition alongside its materiality. Editor: It’s a humble testament to sustained attention, I’d say.