A Ship with Shields Before the Sun 

Frances Macdonald produced this drawing, "A Ship with Shields Before the Sun," using modest materials: paper and what appears to be sepia ink. The monochromatic palette emphasizes the texture of the paper and the fluidity of the ink, allowing us to focus on the delicate, almost dreamlike quality of the scene. Macdonald coaxes a wide range of tonal values from her chosen medium, building up layers to suggest depth and form, from the ship in the foreground to the ethereal figures on the horizon. The sepia ink lends the image a sense of antiquity, reminiscent of old photographs or faded memories. The Pre-Raphaelite movement valued returning to craft production, rejecting industrial manufacture in the creation of their art. The intimacy of drawing allows for a direct connection between the artist's hand, the material, and the final image. By emphasizing the importance of materials and making, we can appreciate the social context in which Macdonald produced her symbolic and ethereal compositions.