Title Page 1727 - 1804

This Title Page was made by Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo in the eighteenth century with pen and brown wash over graphite. The drawing's sepia tones are a direct result of the materials and processes used. Wash drawings like this one were valued for their immediacy, made using diluted ink applied with a brush. The artist’s skilled hand allowed him to quickly define the composition and model forms through tonal variations. This type of drawing, made with accessible and relatively inexpensive materials, was part of a much wider world of graphic communication, from popular prints to formal academic studies. Tiepolo's virtuosic technique elevates this work beyond mere utility, yet its roots in everyday practices are still visible. Thinking about the drawing in this way, it challenges the hierarchy between fine art and more accessible forms of visual culture. It reminds us that the value and meaning of an artwork is not solely determined by its materials, but by its broader social and cultural context.