Minerva 1754 - 1809

This is a drawing of Minerva, made by Izaak Jansz. de Wit in the eighteenth century. It is created with pen in brown ink on paper, materials that seem conventional enough. But, there is something quite distinctive about the artist’s technique. You see how the ink is used, not to create areas of solid tone, but rather networks of hatched marks. This gives a real sense of volume and depth. The drawing medium lends itself to linear precision, yet de Wit coaxes a painterly effect from it. The real labor of this work lies in the careful control of the artist’s hand, building layer upon layer of these tiny strokes. Consider the time and concentration required for such an approach! It speaks to a period where artistic skill was highly valued, and displayed not only in the final image but in the very process of its creation. This drawing is not just an image; it is a record of thoughtful labor.