A kneeling man and a reclining nude seen from the back 1650 - 1700

This drawing of a kneeling man and reclining nude was made by an anonymous artist, using ink on paper. The artist has made use of the natural flow of the ink to create depth, shadow, and texture, with the repeated application of the rapid hatching technique to bring volume to the figures. Notice how these repeated, economic, and quick marks result in the loose, organic form of both figures. The use of ink on paper speaks to a tradition of sketching and drawing. The ease and relative inexpensiveness of the materials allowed the artist to quickly capture form and experiment with composition, in service to the study of anatomy and form. The drawing may not be a finished artwork, but rather a means to an end, an exploration of the human figure. Paying attention to the materials and processes involved reminds us that art-making is always a form of labor and that even the simplest of materials can be used to create something of lasting value.