Kniende Frau, ein Kind in den Armen haltend 

Giovanni Battista Sassi made this drawing, "Kniende Frau, ein Kind in den Armen haltend," with pen and brown ink on paper. The artist's hand is evident in every stroke, varying from thin, delicate lines defining contours, to thicker applications creating volume and shadow. Note the textures Sassi achieved: the soft folds of the woman's robe contrast with the delicate features of the child. The process involved careful observation and control of the pen to capture the emotional weight of the scene. Drawings like this were often preparatory studies, born from the culture of the European workshop and often seen as less significant than painting or sculpture. Yet the immediacy and intimacy of this work offer a powerful connection to Sassi's artistic process. The way he built up the image with layers of hatching, and his sensitive handling of light and shade, invite us to appreciate drawing as a skilled practice in its own right. It's a reminder that every artwork, regardless of its medium, is the result of skilled labor and considered choices, blurring the lines between fine art and craft.