Zwevende putto 1700 - 1800

This is a red chalk drawing of a floating putto, made by an anonymous artist. The choice of red chalk itself is significant. The material is naturally suited to the contours and soft modeling of the human form, and was favored for preparatory drawings during the Renaissance. Now, consider the labor implied in this drawing. Before industrialization, chalk wasn't just picked up off the ground; it had to be quarried, processed, and refined. The paper too, would have been carefully prepared to receive the artist's marks. The lines vary in pressure, indicating a sensitivity of hand and eye, a deep understanding of anatomy, and a commitment to capturing the essence of the figure. The artist had to translate the three-dimensional form into a two-dimensional representation with the use of light and shadows. So, while the subject might seem light and airy, the drawing itself is grounded in the realities of material production and skilled labor. And, through that labor, the artist gives the figure its own sense of weight and presence.