De Voorzichtigheid toont Hercules de spiegel der deugd en moed 1680 - 1757

Mattheus Terwesten created this drawing of Hercules being shown the mirror of virtue and courage using pen in brown ink, brush in brown and grey ink, and graphite. The materials themselves are quite traditional, not esoteric or industrial. Yet it’s important to note that paper like this was a commodity, manufactured and sold. Terwesten purchased it, then put his own labor into its transformation. The lines are confident and fluid, and the washes of ink add depth and shadow. This skilled application of ink creates a sense of volume and weight. It takes considerable practice to master a technique like this. The drawing’s aesthetic, with its dramatic lighting and classical subject matter, would have resonated with the educated elite of Terwesten’s time. It also speaks to larger issues, like the rise of a market for luxury goods. We see the artist’s labor translated into a valuable object, ready for display and admiration.