Krakow morgue 

Jan Matejko created this drawing of a Krakow morgue, using pen and ink, with all the emphasis on line you’d expect from that medium. Notice how the starkness of the lines throws the subject matter into high relief. Matejko was interested in the play of light across the facade of the building, capturing how the surfaces of the stone are worn. Look at the rough hatching used to define the shadows. Pen and ink is a very unforgiving medium, which does not allow for much blending or modulation. It really requires confidence, and a certain graphic sensibility, appropriate to the subject at hand. Consider how this process reflects the history of art making. It certainly puts us in touch with the artist’s hand, the immediacy of the line, and how this medium, and the labor involved in producing a drawing, can convey great emotional impact.