Minerva 1886

Edward John Poynter made this drawing of Minerva using chalk, likely sometime in the late 19th century. Chalk might seem like a humble material, but in the hands of an artist like Poynter, it becomes a tool for expressing the qualities of light and shadow, and for capturing the drape and texture of fabric. Look closely, and you’ll see how he used different strokes and pressures to build up form, giving Minerva’s robes a sense of weight and volume. Poynter was trained in the academic tradition, which emphasized drawing as a fundamental skill. Chalk allowed artists to quickly sketch ideas, study anatomy, and prepare for larger paintings. Drawing was seen as a craft, requiring years of practice and discipline. In its own way, this drawing bridges what we think of as ‘high art’ and ‘craft’. The skill involved and the material, so elemental, are the most important things, and the distinction between art and craft becomes irrelevant.