Two Monks giving Water to a Woman and Child in the Wilderness n.d.

Carlo Labruzzi made this drawing with pen and brown ink, and gray wash over black chalk. The toned effect results from the layering of these materials. Labruzzi was active at a time when there was great interest in landscape, and picturesque views. You can really see this fascination in the rock formations depicted here. Their monumentality contrasts starkly with the small figures of the monks, and the vulnerable woman and child they aid. The layering of materials in the drawing creates depth, highlighting the dramatic terrain. The labor is evident in the careful hatching and cross-hatching, built line upon line to create tone and texture. While at first glance this may seem to be a straightforward landscape study, Labruzzi's sensitivity to his materials and his meticulous technique adds another layer of meaning. It asks us to consider the relationship between human presence and the natural world.