May (one of a series representing the labors of the months) 1690

Jonas Umbach made this drawing, May, as part of a series in the 17th century. Executed in sanguine chalk, it depicts a group making music in a garden. Chalk is a relatively direct medium. It has a toothy, granular quality, which you can see especially in the rendering of the foliage. It allows for quick, expressive marks, though it’s also unforgiving; erasures leave a trace. This gives the drawing a slightly provisional feel, as though Umbach was thinking through the composition as he went. The choice of red chalk is also significant. While black chalk was more commonly used for preparatory sketches, sanguine was favored for figure studies and finished drawings. Its warm tone lends the scene a certain vitality, evoking the pleasures of music, leisure, and nature. It is a reminder that even a humble material like chalk can be used to create works of enduring beauty and expressive power. By understanding the materials and methods used, we can gain a deeper appreciation for the choices made by the artist.