Sketch for the Flight into Egypt [verso] 1750 - 1755

Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo created this sketch, likely in the 18th century, using traditional drawing materials: paper and graphite. The drawing’s hazy appearance results directly from the qualities of these humble materials. Graphite, a form of carbon, is known for its soft, smudgy character, especially when applied to paper. The artist likely used a dry drawing technique, allowing the graphite to leave a subtle deposit on the paper's surface. The Flight into Egypt is difficult to discern, but the composition emerges from the artist's repeated gestures, erasures, and reworkings of the figures. This method emphasizes the value of process in art making. Tiepolo’s approach, rooted in traditional modes of production, allowed for the creation of both preliminary sketches like this one, and finished artworks. By valuing the qualities and processes inherent in simple materials, this artwork blurs the lines between craft and fine art.