Et par krigere dræber en nøgen mand, som de finder i samleje med en kvinde 1743 - 1809

This drawing, *Et par krigere dræber en nøgen mand, som de finder i samleje med en kvinde*, was made by Nicolai Abildgaard using pen and brown ink on paper. The stark contrast created by the brown ink against the blank paper results in a raw image. The artist's use of simple lines defines form and musculature, and the composition depicts a brutal event. Abildgaard was a leading exponent of neoclassicism, so it's important to remember that drawings like this were often made as preparations for larger paintings. It's a quick way of planning out a composition. Though quickly executed, the drawing hints at a wider political context, as the artist has chosen to portray a moment of violence rooted in social transgression. Consider the power dynamics implied in the image, and the labor that would have gone into creating the final painting. It is a reminder that even preliminary sketches can reveal an artist's worldview. Ultimately, the meaning of this artwork is not just in its subject, but in the materials, the making, and the historical context in which it was created.