De profetieën van Amos 1603 - 1728

This drawing, “De profetieën van Amos”, was made by an anonymous artist, using red chalk and graphite. The earthy tones of the chalk give the scene a grounded, almost tactile quality, emphasizing the labor of the figure wrestling with the lion. The medium itself, chalk, is relatively common, its accessibility mirrored in the depiction of everyday life. The artist has imbued the scene with social significance, using the traditional medium to reflect the life and labor of ordinary individuals. Look at the figure of Amos, a shepherd, in the foreground, who is being called to prophecy. The very act of drawing, with its direct connection between hand and surface, becomes a way of dignifying this humble figure. The image can be fully appreciated by understanding the artist's choices of materials and the ways in which these choices reflect the cultural values and the place of labor within society.