Knights on Horseback n.d.

Charles Parrocel made this drawing, Knights on Horseback, using pen and brown wash on paper. The seemingly effortless strokes belie the amount of practice it took to create such an image. Notice the strategic use of light and shadow, achieved through varying the concentration of the brown wash. This technique is a testament to Parrocel’s mastery of the medium, transforming a simple drawing into a dynamic scene, which elevates the status of the knights and their horses. This wasn’t just about artistic skill; it was also about labor, and skill and labour are closely related. Parrocel would have spent years honing his craft, learning to control the flow of ink and the pressure of his pen to achieve the desired effects. In the 18th century, such skills were highly valued, as they represented a combination of intellectual understanding and manual dexterity. Considering the material, making, and context of the artwork allows us to appreciate the labour and skills of the artist, and to challenge the traditional distinction between fine art and craft.