Hercules doodt de Hydra van Lerna

Augustinus Terwesten made this drawing of Hercules slaying the Hydra with pen in brown ink, brush in brown wash, and heightened with white over black chalk around 1677. Look closely, and you'll notice how the artist used the brown ink and wash to build up the forms of Hercules and the Hydra. He added highlights with white to create the illusion of light and shadow. You can almost feel the rippling muscles and the writhing coils of the monster. The drawing feels sculptural, despite being an image on paper. Terwesten was clearly fascinated by classical antiquity. And with this piece he invites us to consider the sheer labor involved in the making of an image. As well as the labor of the mythological figure he has represented. It is a real feat of skill, achieved through diligent practice and careful manipulation of humble materials.