Hercules and Antaeus n.d.

This drawing captures Hercules' legendary strength as he battles Antaeus. It was made with pen and brown ink, with a brown wash to add depth and shading. The artist's choice of medium influences how we see the conflict. Pen and ink, with their capacity for precise lines, allow for a detailed rendering of the figures' muscular forms. The brown wash creates a dramatic effect, heightening the sense of struggle and physical exertion. The artist demonstrates skill in manipulating the ink to create shadows and highlights, giving the figures a three-dimensional quality. The process of layering ink and wash requires careful control and planning. But this wasn't merely an aesthetic choice. By emphasizing Hercule's musculature, the artist subtly refers to the value of labor and the human body; both central to the process of artmaking itself. It prompts us to consider the role of skill and craft in giving form to such an epic mythological scene.