The Annunciation c. early 17th century

Alessandro Maganza created this drawing of the Annunciation with pen and brown ink. The composition centers on two primary figures, the angel and the Virgin Mary, positioned dynamically to create tension and narrative flow. Maganza’s use of line is particularly striking. Notice how the jagged, rapid strokes build form and convey movement, especially in the angel's wings and robes. The lines suggest depth, yet the absence of shading flattens the image, emphasizing the two-dimensional surface. Mary’s figure, though more static, is rendered with a similar energetic hand, capturing a moment of surprised contemplation. The composition lacks traditional perspective, placing the figures in a somewhat ambiguous space, underscoring the miraculous nature of the event. This challenges the Renaissance conventions of spatial realism, which often grounded religious scenes in earthly settings. Instead, the focus shifts to the psychological and spiritual drama unfolding between the figures. Through these formal choices, Maganza invites us to consider the Annunciation not as a literal depiction but as a profound expression of divine intervention and human response.