Saint Paul Preaching in Athens 1734

Giovanni Paolo Panini made this drawing, Saint Paul Preaching in Athens, using pen and brown ink with brown wash on cream laid paper. Washes like these were often used in the 17th and 18th centuries to create tonal variation and suggest depth on a flat surface. But what does the materiality of paper and ink tell us about the wider social context of this work? Paper, even then, was a relatively inexpensive material, yet the skill required to create such a detailed and expressive drawing was considerable. Note the ways the ink varies in tone and density, built up through many delicate layers of application. Panini's technique speaks to a tradition of careful craftsmanship, a world away from the mass production of our own time. There’s something compelling in that contrast. By considering the materials and labor involved, we recognize that every artwork is not just an image, but also the product of particular conditions and choices.