The Entombment c. 1656 - 1657

This is Nicolas Poussin’s "The Entombment," made using pen and brown ink in the 17th century. Looking closely, we can see the artist’s hand in the dynamism of the lines, giving the image a sense of urgency. When we look at a drawing like this, we are invited to reflect on the artist's labor and the materials they used. Pen and ink, relatively modest materials, were used to create the first marks and initial concept of an artwork. There’s a directness and a sense of immediacy that comes with drawing; we see the artist’s process and the relationship between planning and execution, between hand, tool, and surface. Poussin uses thin, linear strokes to build up the image, layering them to create depth and shadow. By focusing on the drawing’s materiality and process, we gain insight into the artist’s working method, and recognize it as a skilled creative practice.