The Annunciation 1500 - 1553

Wolfgang Huber created this drawing of the Annunciation in ink on paper in 1514. The monochromatic medium lends a stark quality to the architectural rendering. Huber's hand skillfully crafts the cavernous cathedral, creating a sense of depth with delicate lines. The ink, applied with varying pressure, gives weight to the columns and arches. The labor-intensive method of hand-drawing, typical of the pre-industrial era, underscores the value placed on craftsmanship, a direct contrast to the mass production and consumption that would later define artistic creation. The choice of ink, while traditional, is not neutral. Derived from natural sources, the production of ink itself would have been tied to wider social issues of resource extraction. Paying attention to materials and making allows us to appreciate the cultural context of this artwork, and its connection to the society that created it.