Sketches of Head, Hands, Shoulder, and Feet n.d.

This drawing of a head, hands, shoulder, and feet was made with red chalk on paper by an anonymous artist. The artist has made this study with a material and a process that are ancient: chalk, which is essentially drawing with a rock, and paper, which even in its earliest forms, was an incredibly efficient, portable, and reproducible format. The red chalk gives the drawing a warm tone, and the artist’s strokes are visible in the final product. With this drawing, the artist has worked with simple materials to create an intimate study of the human body. It is almost as if we, the viewers, are looking over the artist's shoulder as the artist is trying to figure out the composition and figure. By focusing on the materials and processes, we can appreciate the level of work involved in the production process, and challenge traditional distinctions between fine art and craft.