Laenas trekt een cirkel in het zand rond Antiochus IV Epiphanes 1752 - 1819

Jurriaan Andriessen created this drawing, "Laenas Draws a Circle in the Sand around Antiochus IV Epiphanes," using pen and brush with gray ink, likely in the late 18th or early 19th century. The application of ink washes, diluted to varying degrees, gives depth and volume to the figures. The immediacy of drawing allows for the capture of fleeting moments and gestures. Here, the lines are fluid, almost nervous, conveying the tension of the depicted encounter. The circle, lightly sketched, becomes a powerful boundary, charged with symbolic weight. The choice of ink on paper speaks to a tradition of quick studies and preparatory sketches, central to academic art practice. But beyond its function, the drawing offers insight into Andriessen’s hand and mind, revealing the material and intellectual processes behind the creation of an image. The artist engages with history, while leaving us with a tangible trace of his own labor. This challenges any divide between the so-called fine arts and the realm of craft.