Schrijfvoorbeeld met kapitaal B 1618

Editor: This drawing, "Schrijfvoorbeeld met kapitaal B," created in 1618 by Hans Strick, is made with ink on paper. I find the swirls of calligraphy almost overwhelming, a very dynamic abstract composition. What draws your eye to this piece? Curator: Well, considering its material construction, let's think about 17th-century artisanal practices. The drawing wasn't just an artistic endeavor, but a product of highly skilled labor. The ink itself would've been carefully mixed. Consider the cost of the materials: the paper, the ink, the skilled labor necessary to execute such precise calligraphic forms. Editor: So you're saying the drawing represents not just aesthetic skill but also economic investment? Curator: Precisely! It signifies a certain level of patronage, a demand for luxury items that went beyond simple functionality. This piece, rather than simply conveying meaning, becomes a display of craftsmanship tied to commerce. Note how the flourishes of the large "B" seem to deliberately push against the constraints of functional lettering. Does this abstraction, this rejection of pure utility, suggest something about the patron's aspirations? Editor: It certainly recontextualizes how I see the 'abstract' element. It isn’t *just* for decoration. The level of ornate flourish signals wealth, status... Curator: Yes! And how the line functions - thick to thin - indicates the labor and the type of instruments used, what this meant at that historical time for both commerce and leisure... What do you take away from our dialogue? Editor: I'm seeing the piece through a completely new lens, no longer as solely a pretty example of penmanship but also as an index of material culture, patronage, and economic forces at play. Thanks for opening my eyes to the labour within the Line!