A Kneeling Nude Woman with her Left Arm Raised 1518

This study of a kneeling nude woman was made by Raphael sometime in the early 16th century using a reddish chalk. It’s not the kind of chalk we used to write on blackboards; this is a natural material, an iron-rich clay stone that could be mined, sawn into sticks, and used for drawing. Red chalk was favored by Renaissance artists like Raphael for its ability to render the color and volume of human flesh. Look closely, and you can see how he varied the pressure of the chalk to build up the form, using hatching to create shadows, and leaving the paper bare to suggest highlights. The marks are allowed to remain visible, bearing witness to the artist's process. What I find particularly fascinating is how Raphael’s choice of material elevates the status of drawing. It's not just a preliminary step toward a finished painting; it's a refined art form in its own right.