Felicitas met haar zeven zonen onthoofd 1805

Ernst Willem Jan Bagelaar created this pen and ink drawing, "Felicitas met haar zeven zonen onthoofd" sometime before 1837. Bagelaar was working within a printmaking tradition, where line work is paramount. Take note of the confident strokes, quickly applied to the paper. Though the subject matter is brutal, the artist has rendered it with incredible lightness. This contrast is typical of early printmaking, which often dealt with religious or historical subjects. To create a drawing like this, one must become accustomed to the repetitive nature of mark-making, building up the image layer by layer. The artist shows their skills through the quality of the lines, their tonal variety, and their ability to capture a sense of depth and space with minimal means. Ultimately, this drawing reminds us that even in the age of mechanical reproduction, the human hand is essential for creating meaning. The apparent ease of production belies a deep engagement with the traditions and histories that precede it.