Kneeling Monk 1555 - 1619

Denijs Calvaert made this drawing of a kneeling monk sometime before his death in 1619, using black and white chalk on paper. The artist’s hand is evident in the countless strokes, massing together to create shadows, folds in the garments, and the illusion of three dimensions. Calvaert would have been highly skilled in draftsmanship, and drawings such as this were critical to the economics of artistic production. The use of chalk, a readily available material, was essential to this purpose. Chalk allowed for relative speed, making it possible to create multiple studies for paintings, or as independent works for sale. We can easily imagine the artist using this study in the creation of a larger painting, for instance, or perhaps selling it to a patron as a devotional image in its own right. Ultimately, the apparent simplicity of this work belies the labor involved, both physical and intellectual. And by considering these factors, we move beyond aesthetic appreciation to a deeper understanding of the work’s place in its time.