Abklatch van een krijttekening 1848 - 1888

This transfer of a chalk drawing was made by Anton Mauve sometime in the 19th century. It's essentially a copy, made by laying another sheet of paper over an original drawing and rubbing it to lift off some of the pigment. The process of making this work affects its appearance. Chalk, being a dry medium, lends itself to this kind of reproductive process. But, the texture is changed. Look closely and you'll see a subtle, granular quality, a direct result of the chalk being lifted and transferred. We have an inherently ‘fuzzy’ medium rendered even more so. Beyond its texture, the significance lies in its accessibility. Chalk is an everyday material, not precious like oil paint or bronze. This kind of transfer would have allowed for a broader circulation of images. It's a reminder that art-making isn't just about singular masterpieces, but also about the social life of images, their dissemination, and the many hands involved in bringing them into the world.