Landscape with Figures Crossing a Bridge (recto); Study of a Nude Male, Study of Legs, Study of Head in Profile to the Right (verso) 1600 - 1700

This drawing of a landscape with figures was made with pen and brown wash on paper by an anonymous artist. The lines are quick and suggestive, a flurry of marks. The artist has exploited the fluidity of ink wash to conjure shadow and depth in the landscape. You can almost feel the wind in the trees. Though seemingly dashed off, this wasn't casually done. The drawings on the reverse show how the artist worked out figures in isolation, before placing them within the scene. This illustrates the amount of planning and labor that went into the work. Interestingly, the drawings are executed on paper; it is likely that the artist used commercially produced paper. In this work, the artist has used an industrial product to explore nature and the human form. This contrast makes us think about the social context of the work. It bridges the gap between the commercial world and the artistic, inviting us to think about the relationship between the two.