Saint John the Baptist Preaching n.d.

Annibale Carracci created this drawing of Saint John the Baptist sometime in the late 16th century, using pen and brown ink on laid paper. The immediacy of drawing gives us insight into Carracci's working method. Notice how he builds up volume and shadow with many short, hatched lines. He coaxes the figures and landscape out of the blank page with energetic marks. The laid paper gives the drawing an additional texture and warmth. We can see the artist thinking on paper, adjusting lines, and massing shadows to create a sense of depth. It makes us wonder how this drawing may have related to his painted compositions. Was it a study for a larger work, or a quick impression taken from life? Paying attention to the materials and the process gives us a richer sense of Carracci's practice. It reminds us that even a quick sketch can be a deeply considered act of creation.