Twee hoofden van kinderen 1773 - 1777

Jean François Janinet made this study of children’s heads using red chalk, a material that gives the drawing a warm, lifelike quality. Red chalk is interesting in itself, as it is not a manufactured color, but comes directly from the earth, and needs little processing. Its earthy hue reflects the way the artist approached the drawing. Notice how Janinet captured the soft, rounded forms of the children’s faces through subtle shading and delicate lines. The chalk allows for a range of tonal variations, creating depth and volume. The medium also invites a certain approach: a degree of realism, perhaps, or at least a naturalism. This wasn’t necessarily high art in its own time. These heads were likely made as studies, exercises for the artist’s hand and eye. But these drawings are also very beautiful, and in their way, they remind us that skill and practice are involved in all forms of creative expression. Appreciating the artistry and the materials allows us to expand what we consider as art.