Sitzendes junges Mädchen mit Haube und Halsband, halb nach rechts gewandt c. 1771 - 1772

Georg Melchior Kraus made this drawing of a young girl with charcoal on paper sometime in the 1700s. Here, the artist coaxes forth this girl’s image using the simplest of means, just a stick of charcoal rubbed onto paper. Look closely, and you’ll see the texture of the paper itself adds interest to the drawing, catching the charcoal in just such a way as to make it look as though she's glowing from within. The seeming simplicity of the medium belies the level of skill required to execute the artwork. The artist's attention to line and shading creates depth, capturing the soft fabric of her cap, and the set of her young face. Kraus also shows off his skills with varied marks, from the quick, light strokes of her sleeves, to the short, dense hatching of her bodice. This control over the material transforms the work into something precious and enduring. It serves as a reminder that art doesn't need to be elaborate to be profound, that even the most humble of materials can convey great beauty and depth.