A massive trove of drawings of chairs, clocks, vases and more across
four centuries
Published in conjunction with an exhibition at the Rijksmuseum,
Process displays the museum's extensive collection of previously
unseen drawings of artifacts from the 1500s to 1900. The book thoroughly
discusses the artifacts--which include vases, chairs, clocks, stoves,
sledges and carriages, among many others--investigating their origins
and usage, as well as the systems of production behind the objects;
inventors, makers and patrons all feature here. The central focus of
Process, however, is not the artifacts but the design drawings
themselves. The drawings are arranged according to the successive stages
of the design process, from the first sketches in pencil to their fully
elaborated, colorful presentation.
Unlike other publications on this subject, Process privileges the
function of the drawings within the design process over their provenance
and attribution. This distinct approach was developed after years of
research by Reinier Baarsen, senior curator at the Rijksmuseum, who
contributes text to the volume.