Terechtstelling 1628 - 1658

This drawing, called Terechtstelling, or "Execution," was made by Cornelis Holsteyn sometime in the mid-17th century. It's executed in pen and brown ink, with a grey wash, on paper. The use of these materials would have been standard practice for a preparatory sketch by an artist like Holsteyn, who was primarily a painter, not a printmaker. Though, the subject matter is dramatic, this isn't a finished work for public consumption. It is a study, a means to an end. The way the artist uses the wash is very controlled and economical. You can see the hand of a skilled draftsman, quickly but effectively rendering light and shadow. Consider how much labor would ultimately be involved in scaling this sketch up to a large canvas. It puts the art in perspective. It allows us to see the drawing as a crucial step in a longer process of production.