Susanna and the Elders 1622 - 1660

Augustin Medow created this image of Susanna and the Elders with pen and brown ink, heightened with watercolor, around 1660. These were common materials at the time, but this doesn't make the work straightforward. The most striking element is the artist’s touch. Look at the way that Medow has used layers of ink and wash to create an almost palpable sense of depth, with the figures emerging from the shaded background. See how the lines seem to vibrate with energy, lending the scene a peculiar tension. This kind of drawing was considered a preparatory exercise, a step toward a finished painting. Yet, the care and skill that Medow invested in this work elevates it beyond a mere study. It invites us to consider the value of craft, and the creative possibilities of so-called ‘humble’ materials. It challenges the idea that fine art is somehow superior to more utilitarian forms of making.