Zelfportret Jan Brandes 1786

Jan Brandes made this study of monkeys with pencil, ink and paper sometime in the late 18th century. The beauty here lies in the draftsmanship and the use of simple materials. Brandes skillfully uses hatching to create depth and volume, a technique that’s fundamental to drawing. Paper, pencil and ink have a long history, connecting this work to a tradition of scientific illustration and naturalism, but also to the world of commerce and exploration; drawings were crucial records for understanding the natural world, especially in newly colonized territories. The way the paper takes the ink, creating subtle tonal variations, adds to the work’s immediacy. The artist’s hand is very present; the paper offers no resistance, inviting an intimacy and spontaneity. This is a study, not a finished work, and it’s all the more charming for that. It reminds us that even simple materials, when handled with care and skill, can result in something quite special.