Der Heilige Hieronymus in seiner Zelle, seinem Attributtier den Dorn aus der Tatze ziehend c. 1492

This drawing by Karl Ballenberger depicts Saint Jerome removing a thorn from a lion’s paw. It's rendered using precise lines, a demanding skill honed through rigorous practice. Consider the labor involved in creating this work. Ballenberger meticulously applied pen and ink to paper. The linear precision speaks volumes about the artist's control and focus. Notice how the ink's darkness varies, creating depth and texture. Ballenberger uses the quality of the line to create a whole world, drawing the viewer into the humble cell of the Saint and his unlikely companion. Drawings like these were often preparatory studies or independent works of art, accessible to a wider audience than large-scale paintings. The very act of drawing becomes a form of devotion, mirroring Jerome’s own dedication to scholarship and faith. Ultimately, this modest drawing invites us to appreciate the skill, time, and cultural significance embedded in its making. It urges us to reconsider the value we place on craft, often overshadowed by grander artistic gestures.