Vrouw zittend aan een tafel achter een boek 1748 - 1798

Willem Joseph Laquy made this drawing of a woman with red chalk sometime in the late 18th century. Chalk drawings are particularly interesting because of the immediate and tactile relationship between the artist and the material. The powdery, almost crumbly nature of chalk allows for soft, subtle gradations of tone. Laquy has used this to his advantage, creating a luminous effect, particularly on the figure’s draped clothing. The drawing is created through hatching, in which closely spaced parallel lines build up areas of tone and shadow. Look closely and you can see the direction and pressure of Laquy’s hand as he built up the image, working methodically to capture the effects of light and shadow on the woman's face and clothing. These processes have imbued the artwork with the intimacy and immediacy of the artist's touch. Ultimately, this emphasis on material and making underscores the value of craft within fine art, challenging conventional hierarchies.