The Head of a Crossbowman Taking Aim 1515

Hans Holbein the Elder made this drawing of a crossbowman with chalk and ink, sometime in the late 15th or early 16th century. Holbein has deftly captured the tension in the man's face, the squint in his eye, and the set of his jaw, all with simple strokes of line and subtle shading. Think about the materials involved: chalk, a readily available mineral, and ink, probably made from soot and gum. The artist has exploited the contrast between these two humble materials, as well as paper - then a relatively new, and expensive, medium. The marks of the artist's hand are evident in every line, and we feel the weight of the man's concentration. The drawing embodies the skill and labor involved in the traditions of both fine art and craft, using them to make the invisible, visible. Holbein gives form to an inner state through the practiced gestures of his hand, reminding us of the power of art to communicate human experience. It challenges us to reconsider the boundaries between skill, labor, and artistic expression.