Johannes der Evangelist mit Giftbecher 1518

This drawing of Saint John the Evangelist with a poisoned cup was created by Wolf Huber, around 1518. It's made from brown paper, with pen and white heightening, a relatively inexpensive combination of materials. The artist has used the dark paper as a mid-tone, building up the lighter areas with white, and using the pen to define forms. It’s a quick way of working, but also a skilled one, requiring an ability to think sculpturally and a deep understanding of light and shadow. The drawing really showcases the artist's ability, because the white heightening makes the image practically glow against the brown paper, giving it a supernatural quality. This is no accident; it serves to underscore the miraculous quality of the scene, where the Saint survives drinking poison. Ultimately, it is the combination of paper, pen, and white heightening that allows Huber to achieve such a dramatic effect, turning something humble into something transformative. This challenges our assumptions about artistic value and the creative potential inherent in so-called 'low' materials.