Stehender Zeus mit dem Donnerkeil in der Rechten, neben ihm der Adler 

Georg Raphael Donner’s Stehender Zeus mit dem Donnerkeil in der Rechten, neben ihm der Adler, was made with pen and brush, using brown and grey ink on paper. The way the ink interacts with the paper – soaking in, bleeding slightly, and creating soft edges – profoundly influences the artwork’s appearance. Notice how the brown ink sketches Zeus’s body and the grey ink fills in the shadows, giving him depth and volume. This process, using the skilled tradition of drawing, imprints social significance onto the artwork through the labor involved in its creation. It’s a testament to the artist's ability to master his materials and tools, transforming them into a medium for artistic expression. The controlled application of ink emphasizes the monumentality of Zeus, echoing classical sculpture. Paying attention to materials, making, and context allows us to challenge traditional distinctions between fine art and craft, revealing the depth of artistic creation.