Demetrius, sein Schwert ziehend und mit weit ausfallendem Schritt, nach links c. 1867 - 1868

This pencil drawing of Demetrius was made by Paul Konewka, though we don’t know exactly when. Konewka worked with a simple set of materials: graphite and paper. Yet with these, he managed to create a design of great narrative force, showing the figure in mid-motion. The pencil lines are light and quick, suggesting an active process of creation. The paper’s texture adds a subtle graininess to the image. Konewka was most famous for his silhouette work, which suggests an awareness of both folk traditions and popular commercial illustration. But here, in this freehand sketch, we see the artist thinking through his subject matter, allowing us to appreciate the process behind the final artwork. It invites us to consider the many hours of work that go into even the most seemingly effortless works of art. The drawing reminds us that skill is not just about the end product, but the journey of making.