The Raising of the Cross 

Luca Giordano made this drawing, The Raising of the Cross, with pen and brown ink, and brown wash over black chalk, likely in preparation for a painting. The material is unassuming – humble, even. Yet look how vividly Giordano conveys the straining muscles of the men struggling to raise the cross, and the sheer weight they are struggling against. The wash creates deep shadows, heightening the drama, while the pen lines add detail and definition. The network of lines almost feels like the complex network of muscles and veins that constitute the human body. Consider too, the intense labor represented here. Giordano asks us to contemplate not only the physical burden of Christ’s crucifixion, but also the work of the common laborers who were compelled to carry out the task. Giordano's expert handling of modest materials reminds us that even the simplest of means can be used to create powerful and moving works of art. The act of drawing itself becomes a testament to the artist's skill and the power of human expression.