Staand mannelijk naakt 1791

Derk Anthony van de Wart created this standing male nude drawing with pen in gray on paper. The inherent qualities of the drawing are shaped by the artist's skilled hand, showing the effects of his labor. You see, the physical process involved many hours of close looking and meticulous crafting to create the illusion of three dimensions on a flat surface. Van de Wart demonstrates expert technical skills in the medium of gray pen on paper, which creates the composition's subtle gradations of tone and shadow. The medium is also very portable. This allowed artists to disseminate their skills to an audience beyond elite patrons and to create a market around their work. The paper itself is a material embedded in a network of commerce, labor, and exchange. Looking at this drawing, one should consider the networks of skill, labor, and exchange, involved in its creation. This challenges traditional distinctions between fine art and craft.