The Mocking of Christ (recto); Exterior View of a Church (verso) by Anonymous

The Mocking of Christ (recto); Exterior View of a Church (verso) 1600 - 1700

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drawing, ink, pen

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portrait

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drawing

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narrative-art

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charcoal drawing

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mannerism

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figuration

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ink

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pencil drawing

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pen

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history-painting

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italian-renaissance

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christ

Dimensions: 9-7/16 x 6 in. (23.9 x 15.2 cm)

Copyright: Public Domain

Editor: So, this drawing, "The Mocking of Christ," from around 1600-1700, is done with pen, ink, and charcoal – quite a mix! There’s something unfinished about it, almost like we’re seeing the artist's first thoughts. What stands out to you most? Curator: Immediately, I’m struck by the process, the sheer labor evident in the accumulation of marks. Consider the availability of drawing materials at the time. Pen, ink, charcoal – each would have been sourced and prepared, indicating a deliberate, perhaps even ritualistic, engagement with the act of creation. How does this intense physical engagement with the materials shift your understanding of the drawing? Editor: That makes me think about how easily we can access these things now! Back then, creating art really involved tangible effort at every step. I guess I hadn’t really considered how those material limitations would impact the choices the artist made in the moment. Curator: Precisely! Now look at the layering of media. Is it possible that different artisans contributed to its creation? What implications could that hold for the value we assign to a supposedly singular artistic genius? It makes you wonder if "anonymous" truly captures the social conditions of its production. Editor: Hmm, interesting. It makes you wonder about the division of labor in art, something we often overlook when we focus on the artist's genius. So, understanding how it was made, and with what, actually reveals so much about art at the time. Thanks! Curator: My pleasure. Let's appreciate that these material processes not only influenced the work, but still offer insight into its history and perhaps some yet-undiscovered voices.

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