The expulsion of Adam and Eve from Paradise 1592 - 1668

This drawing of the expulsion of Adam and Eve is made with pen and brush in grey and brown ink, and wash on paper. The artist, who is anonymous, has used the wash to model the figures giving the figures the appearance of sculpture. This is a traditional fine art technique, often used for preparatory sketches, but it also speaks to a particular kind of skill. There's a performative aspect to the work, as they are depicted mid-stride, banished from the garden. The mark making conveys a sense of urgency; in the line work and in the way the tonal values are blocked in with hatching. The act of drawing, especially with a brush, requires a degree of discipline. It's important to consider the amount of work involved in creating such a study. But what is the purpose of this work, and what kind of labor does it represent? Is it the conceptual work of artistic genius? Or is it a skilled process that we can consider to be closer to craft? Thinking about these questions emphasizes the importance of materiality, making, and context in understanding the full meaning of an artwork.