Studie van een linkerhand op een stoelleuning 1594 - 1669

Gaspar de Crayer made this study of a left hand on a chair back with graphite on paper, sometime in the 17th century. The grey paper is stained and worn, and the graphite lines are thin and softly shaded. Drawings like this were essential to the traditional artistic practice of the time. Paper was relatively cheap and graphite was readily available. This allowed artists to produce many studies and preparatory sketches that assisted with the realization of larger, more elaborate artworks. The drawing is quickly rendered and captures the hand's gesture in only a few strokes. De Crayer was trained in the tradition of the Flemish Baroque, where the emphasis was on the skilled and efficient application of materials, rather than a precious reverence for them. This approach allowed artists to be prolific, serving the needs of a growing market for art in the homes of wealthy merchants and nobles. Consider how this modest drawing, made with humble materials, stands as evidence of a broader shift in artistic production.