Philemon en Baucis smeken Jupiter om samen te mogen blijven (in doos met 43 tekeningen) 1744

This drawing, made by Louis Fabritius Dubourg sometime before 1775, presents a classical scene using a humble material: paper. The artist's hand is evident in every delicate stroke of the pen, using hatching and cross-hatching to create volume and shadow. The circular form adds to the classical feel, resembling a medallion or cameo. Though seemingly simple, the drawing represents countless hours of training. Consider the artist's skilled hand, developed over years of practice, learning to control the flow of ink to describe complex forms and emotions. While the mythological subject matter speaks to high culture, the drawing itself connects to the more workaday world of reproductive printmaking, where countless images were created through skilled, artisanal labor. We can see Dubourg’s drawing as bridging these two worlds, equally demonstrating the virtuosity of the artist, and the power of the printing press to disseminate images widely. It reminds us that even seemingly straightforward works on paper are the product of extensive material and social networks.