Groep staande mannen in toga's 1587 - 1640

Here we see a study of standing men in togas, made by Peter Paul Rubens, likely in the early 17th century, using pen and brown ink on paper. The fluid lines suggest the artist worked quickly, capturing the essence of the figures with minimal strokes. The ink, likely iron gall, would have been made by hand in a complex process involving fermentation and careful mixing. The paper too, would have been hand-made from linen or cotton rags. Rubens was deeply engaged with the material culture of his time, sourcing pigments, supports, and tools from a vast network of suppliers and collaborators. Drawing, for Rubens, was a fundamental practice, crucial for developing his ideas, and experimenting with composition. In this study, the artist seems especially interested in how the draped fabric falls and folds around the figures. Recognizing the skill and labor involved in this seemingly simple sketch helps us appreciate Rubens's mastery, and the broader context of artistic production in the Baroque era, when the value of both raw materials and artisanal skill was extremely high.