Jephthah's Daughter 1780 - 1810

Benjamin West made this drawing, Jephthah's Daughter, with pen and brown ink, heightened with white gouache over graphite, on blue paper. The blue ground of the paper shows through the drawing, creating a cool tone to the scene. West has used the pen to sketch out the figures in quick, loose lines. The brown ink is used to define the forms and create shadows, while the white gouache highlights the figures, giving them a sense of volume. The process allows the artist to create a dynamic and dramatic composition, capturing the emotional intensity of the biblical story. The drawing’s medium gives it immediacy, making it a medium for working out ideas and experimenting with composition. West was not afraid to blend the conventions of high art with those of craft. By giving prominence to the materiality of the work, West seems to be asking us to consider the drawing not just as a representation, but as an object in its own right. This helps us see the work in its full complexity, challenging traditional distinctions between fine art and craft.