Figure with mandolin in mediaeval costume 

Edwin Austin Abbey made this drawing of a figure with a mandolin in a medieval costume with chalk on paper. The choice of chalk is interesting, as it is a material that is both immediate and unforgiving. You can see the texture of the chalk on the surface of the paper, giving the drawing a sense of depth and dimension, and it's blended to give a soft, almost dreamlike quality to the image. The use of chalk also implies a certain kind of labor. It requires a direct engagement with the material, and allows very little room for error. The fact that Abbey chose to work in this way suggests that he was interested in the physicality of the drawing process, and how the act of making could imbue the artwork with meaning. This interest challenges the traditional hierarchy between fine art and craft, reminding us that the making is just as important as the finished product.