George III Resuming Royal Power in 1789 c. 1789

Benjamin West made this drawing of George III resuming power in 1789 using pen and brown ink, with a brown wash over graphite, on paper. The effect of the brown wash is quite interesting here. You can see the speed of the artist's hand, and how the ink bleeds slightly into the paper’s fibers. The drawing has an immediacy and sketch-like quality due to the nature of the materials used, which were relatively inexpensive and quick to work with. It feels less like a formal royal portrait, and more like a study for a larger history painting. West was working at a time of political upheaval, and the speed of execution in the drawing process mirrors the swift changes in the social sphere, but also perhaps the labor involved in the production process of the drawing itself. Ultimately, it's the raw, unrefined nature of the drawing that gives it its power. It’s a fascinating look into the making of history, both in terms of subject matter and artistic creation.