Stående figur, vendt mod venstre, i kappe og pelshue, støttende sig ved en stav. 1609 - 1670

Karel van Mander III made this drawing, "Standing Figure", using pen and brown ink with gray wash. The effect has a wonderful looseness. The medium itself invites immediacy, a sense of direct contact with the artist's hand. Yet, there is also a formality here; the figure is draped in what appears to be expensive fabric and fur, leaning on a staff. The artist no doubt wanted to convey the sitter's social standing. Drawings like this were not produced in a vacuum. The use of paper was increasingly common. This was a time when the merchant class was on the rise. The combination of ink drawing with wash allowed for the relatively quick production of evocative images. Paying close attention to the materials and the social context in which art is made helps us to understand its full meaning, challenging any strict separation between the fine arts and the crafts.