Twee rustende herders Possibly 1636 - 1637

Salvator Rosa made this drawing, Twee rustende herders, using pen and brown ink, and brown wash. The use of brown ink and wash is interesting. Rather than the stark contrast you'd get with black ink, the brown gives a softer, more muted effect. The wash is particularly effective in creating volume and shadow, giving the figures a sense of weight. The quick, fluid lines suggest that Rosa wasn't aiming for a highly finished piece, but rather capturing a fleeting moment. This drawing provides insight into the lives of working people, but also hints at the amount of labor needed in the production of art materials. The ink would have been carefully mixed, the pen meticulously crafted, and the paper prepared to receive the artist's marks. Appreciating this encourages us to rethink the divide between art and craft, recognizing the skill and labor involved in both.