En mands højre hånd sat i siden 1780s

This is a preparatory drawing made by Jens Juel, probably in the late 18th century, using red chalk on paper. What I find interesting here is the directness of the medium. Red chalk lends itself to quick, expressive marks; it’s a material perfectly suited to capturing a fleeting impression. You can almost see Juel’s hand moving across the page, building up the form of the hand and arm with a series of confident strokes. And of course, we have to consider the social context: Juel was a sought-after portraitist, and drawings like this would have been essential to his practice. Think of the labor involved—not just in the artist’s skilled hand, but also in the sitter’s patient pose. This sketch is a testament to the collaborative effort behind every portrait, a dance between artist, model, and materials. It makes you appreciate the time, skill, and hard work involved in the creation of a finished portrait.