Zwei französische Soldaten in Rußland 

Eugen Klimsch made this drawing, Zwei französische Soldaten in Rußland, with pen and brown ink, likely sometime in the 19th century. Klimsch used humble materials, a simple pen, and a single color of ink, to create an evocative image of war. The choice of medium is important. Pen and ink is direct, immediate. There is little room for correction. Klimsch’s hand is evident in the nervous, scratchy lines that define the figures and landscape. The brown ink gives the scene a sepia tone, like an old photograph, lending a sense of historical distance and melancholy. It is interesting to note that while Klimsch was clearly a skilled draftsman, the speed and efficiency of pen and ink drawing allowed him to rapidly produce many images. The use of this technique is interesting in the context of the image itself, two French soldiers in Russia surrounded by corpses. The drawing is quick, as war is quick, and just as brutal. So, consider the materials, making, and context together to understand the full meaning of this artwork. It challenges the traditional distinctions between fine art and craft, inviting us to see the value in everyday materials and processes.