Assumption of the Virgin (Recto); Figure Sketches (Verso) 1500 - 1600

This drawing, “Assumption of the Virgin,” was made by an anonymous artist with pen and brown ink on paper. The choice of a relatively humble material like paper, and the use of ink for sketching, suggests this wasn't intended as a finished artwork in itself, but rather a preliminary study. We can almost see the artist thinking through the composition, line by line. The softness of the ink allows for subtle gradations of tone, creating a sense of depth and volume despite the two-dimensional nature of the drawing. It invites us to imagine the artist’s hand moving across the page, testing out forms and refining their vision. While the subject matter is elevated, the mode of production is much more modest. This contrast reminds us that even the grandest artistic visions often begin with humble materials and processes, and indeed rely on many hours of labor and craft.