The Dying Man c. 1853

This drawing by Sir John Everett Millais is made with sepia ink on paper. The way that Millais has applied the ink – in rapid, hatched strokes – speaks to a certain urgency. The image depicts a somber scene. A man lies dying, surrounded by his family. The scene, though emotional, also hints at social realities of the era. Consider the clothing of the figures. Their garments suggest a middle-class status, but are not extravagant. The simplicity of the scene is also apparent in the tools; ink and paper, common materials transformed by skill. Millais was a master of this kind of delicate, yet economical mark-making. The swift application of the ink emphasizes the transient nature of life, as the dying man fades away. Ultimately, the drawing reminds us that art’s value lies not just in the subject, but in the expressive potential of simple materials, and the hand that brings them to life.