Alexa Wilding 1879

This is Dante Gabriel Rossetti's chalk drawing, Alexa Wilding. Rossetti was a master of this medium, building up form with countless strokes of soft pastel to create a hazy, dreamlike image. Looking closely, you can see the texture of the paper coming through, subtly interrupting the illusion of smooth flesh and flowing fabric. Rossetti's choice of chalk as a medium wasn't arbitrary, but rather a conscious decision reflecting his belief that art should be both beautiful and accessible. Unlike oil paint, chalk was inexpensive and relatively easy to work with, aligning with the broader Pre-Raphaelite ethos. The Pre-Raphaelites challenged the strict academic conventions of the art world, turning to earlier sources of inspiration, but they also had a keen interest in the social issues of their time. In choosing a material like chalk, Rossetti was perhaps making a statement about the role of art in a rapidly industrializing society, one where labor and class distinctions were becoming ever more pronounced. So, next time you look at a drawing, consider the humble materials and how they are tied to wider social issues of labor, politics, and consumption, and the amount of work involved in the production process.