The Origin of Painting 1790 - 1800

Edward Francis Burney rendered this delicate drawing, "The Origin of Painting," with pen and gray ink. It depicts the classical myth of the Corinthian maid tracing the shadow of her departing lover on a wall. The essence of this piece lies in its representation of the human desire to capture and preserve—a theme rippling through art history. We see echoes of this act in ancient cave paintings, where outlines of hands and animals evoke a similar primal urge to immortalize a presence. Consider, too, the funerary masks of ancient Egypt, crafted to preserve the likeness of the deceased. But the symbolic power goes further. The shadow, a transient form, becomes a symbol of longing and remembrance. This psychological dance between absence and presence, loss and preservation, is a recurring motif. It reminds us that art—in all its forms—serves as a poignant bridge across time, connecting us to those who came before. The act of tracing, therefore, is not merely replication but also profound communion.