Nativity (recto); Virgin and Child, Angel (verso) 1570 - 1603

Filippo Bellini made this drawing of the Nativity in the late 16th century, using pen and brown ink on laid paper. While the subject matter is elevated, even divine, the drawing itself is very modest. The support is paper, after all, an inexpensive ground, and the brown ink would have been readily available. Bellini’s gestures are quick, not labored; the composition is sketched out with minimal effort. But this unpretentiousness is key to its appeal. The artist’s hand is evident in every stroke, giving the image a directness that more elaborate presentation might lack. It is, if you like, the artistic equivalent of the simple setting of the Nativity itself. We might even say that the drawing parallels in its humility the skilled labor of Joseph, the foster father of Jesus, who worked as a carpenter. Ultimately, this image reminds us that the most profound meanings can emerge from the most unassuming means. The artist does not need extravagant materials to communicate powerfully.