Zittende man c. 1600 - 1642

Pieter Bodding van Laer made this drawing, "Zittende man," with black chalk, a medium with its own inherent qualities. Chalk distinguishes itself from graphite for being coarser, and slightly oily, resulting in rich blacks. Here, the artist exploits this material quality to its fullest. He coaxes a range of tones from the chalk, from velvety dark shadows to softer grays, evoking the texture of the sitter’s clothing and the fall of light across his form. The strokes of the chalk remain visible, and create an immediacy. This drawing speaks to a time when the means of representation were closely tied to direct observation, and skill of hand. Drawings like this one were not only preparatory studies, but also became commodities in their own right, collected for their demonstration of an artist’s talent. Appreciating the materiality and the processes offers us a window into the value placed on artistry and labor in Van Laer's time, as well as the enduring appeal of a well-executed drawing.