Study of the head of Christopher Columbus 1855

Alfred Dehodencq made this study of the head of Christopher Columbus in the 19th century, using pen and brown ink on paper. This was a common medium for academic study, a tradition that goes back centuries. The artist seems to have been especially interested in the effect that he could achieve with the fluidity of the ink, using a minimum of marks to define the features and hair. The thinness of the paper support also contributes to the drawing's immediacy; you can imagine the artist working rapidly, keen to capture the fall of light across his subject's face. This directness of approach is an important aspect of drawing; it is no accident that it is often seen as a fundamental skill, taught to artists as an essential part of their training. A drawing like this reminds us that while the quality of materials obviously has an impact, the artist’s hand is what truly brings an image into being.