Studies of draped female and male figures; verso: Studies of draped female figures 1750 - 1815

This sheet of studies was made by Bartholomaeus Ignaz Weiss in the late 18th or early 19th century, using pen and brown ink over graphite on paper. Look closely, and you will see how the artist explored the possibilities of line. With this humble toolkit, Weiss made quick notations of draped figures. Notice how the pen has a variable thickness, from hair-thin to almost broad. Also, the paper has a warm tone, which provides a subtle contrast to the cool ink. Of course, the cost of these materials would have been minimal, yet a drawing like this represents an enormous investment of time and training. In Weiss's era, artists were expected to be masters of the drawn line, as a foundation for all their other work. So, the simplicity of this sheet belies the deep labor involved. Ultimately, the drawing reminds us that the most basic artistic actions can be the most profound. It prompts questions about what we value today, in an art world often dominated by expensive gestures.