Cartons voor glas in lood ramen 1878 - 1938

This is an anonymous drawing for stained glass windows, and what’s so great is how it shows the bones of the process. I love how you can see the careful grid laid out for each pane, like a map for the light to follow. Each cell contains a flurry of activity. Look at the drama in the upper right corner, the way figures tangle and reach, all rendered with such delicate lines. The drawing is not trying to hide its hand, so to speak. You get to see the artist working through the idea, making a plan. It reminds me of the early cartoons for tapestries, and the tradition of copying - a real conversation happening between artists across time. It's this vulnerability that makes the work so engaging, because you can feel the artist thinking.