Studie voor het Christuskind, staande op de schoot van de maagd Maria. 1595 - 1605

Hendrick Goltzius made this drawing in the late 16th or early 17th century, using black and red chalk, with some penwork on paper. It is a preparatory sketch, a study for a larger composition, and as such, its making is tied to the academic tradition. But it also transcends it. Look closely, and you'll see Goltzius coaxing the effects he wants from the materials at hand. He coaxes a blush to the Christ Child's face with just the right pressure of the red chalk. While the drawing may seem effortless, the artist's skill would have been hard-won, involving years of practice. In Goltzius's time, drawing was considered a foundational skill for many trades, from painting and sculpture to architecture and the decorative arts. By focusing on the techniques and traditions behind this seemingly simple sketch, we can appreciate the broader context of artistic production at the time. It encourages us to consider the value of craft and skill, and it bridges artificial divides between art and labor.