Studies of a Boy and a Girl (recto) Studies of Legs (verso) 1560 - 1609

This drawing was made by Annibale Carracci around 1600, with red chalk on paper. Notice how Carracci coaxes a range of tones from a single material, by varying the pressure of his hand. But why chalk? Well, it crumbles easily, allowing for soft, diffused effects. But it can also be sharpened to a fine point, as you can see in the faces of the children, to give you some idea of his talent. Think of drawing as a kind of labor, in which powdered pigment is coaxed to life by friction. The result is more than just a study of bodies. It is a record of a skilled performance, as vital to the final result as the identity of the children themselves. It’s important to remember that even a seemingly simple drawing is the result of complex materials and techniques, and should be considered alongside painting or sculpture, not somehow beneath them.