Standbeeld van een kussend paar 1765 - 1781

This drawing of a kissing couple was made by Jean Grandjean, probably sometime in the late 1700s. It's rendered in graphite, a material that seems simple enough, but when prepared to a fine point, is capable of capturing subtle gradations of light and shadow. Look closely, and you’ll see how Grandjean used the inherent qualities of graphite to impart a sculptural quality to the figures. The image appears almost carved, the tonal variations giving the impression of light playing across a three-dimensional surface. It's a drawing, but one that aspires to the condition of sculpture. Interestingly, Grandjean died young while a student in Rome, which makes you wonder if this was a study after an antique sculpture. Whether or not it was, the drawing invites us to consider how the traditions of craft, like drawing, played a crucial role in shaping the aesthetic and conceptual development of fine art. It reminds us that the hand is always present.