The artist and the consumer
The wizened painter depicted is too old to be considered a direct likeness of Bruegel, who was likely in his 30s at the time of drawing. He is a universal archetype: the artist, deep in focus.
But he does not exist in a vacuum. From the religious patrons who ruled the art world throughout the Middle Ages and the Renaissance to the complex network of dealers, collectors and professionals that guide the contemporary art market today, artists have long depended on the support of consumers to create their work.
In comes the connoisseur, who’s also been called the critic, buyer or client. ‘They clearly don’t live on the same plane,’ Stijn Alsteens, International Head of Old Master Drawings at Christie’s, says of the two characters in the drawing. ‘The artist is this visionary, whereas the critic is much more down to earth, ready to pay. This sensitivity to the dynamic between the artist and the non-artist has made this work the emblem it still is today.’
