The Throne of Saturn 1883 - 1884

Elihu Vedder imagined this drawing of Saturn with charcoal and chalk, two humble materials, but capable of creating powerful effects. The smudgy, soft quality of the charcoal is perfect for rendering the cosmos. The artist uses it to create an image which evokes not just a planet, but an entire universe. The chalk provides highlights, giving three-dimensionality to the figure of the angel and the rings of Saturn. Although this image has a sense of effortless beauty, creating such effects with charcoal and chalk requires intense practice. Vedder's mastery of these materials allowed him to evoke a sense of otherworldly beauty. It reminds us that even the simplest materials, when handled with skill, can transport us to another world. This image asks us to reflect on the relationship between skill, material, and imagination, challenging the traditional hierarchies between craft and fine art.