Stående kavaler med sværd og hånd i siden. 1632

This drawing of a standing cavalier, now in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst, was made by Karel van Mander III in the 17th century. Executed in pen and brown ink, it’s a study in contrasts – literally – between light and shadow. Look closely, and you’ll see how the artist builds up the figure with rapid, confident strokes. These aren’t the sort of academic techniques you’d associate with a finished painting. Instead, it feels like a fleeting impression, almost dashed off, with the pen hardly leaving the paper. The material has its own active qualities; the ink bleeds slightly into the paper, creating texture. Consider the social context of this image too. This drawing may have been created in the service of a larger painting, but it also stands alone as evidence of the artist’s skill. It reminds us that artistic creation is always a labor, a performance of virtuosity. By appreciating the materials and processes that went into its making, we can better understand its cultural significance.