The Interior of the Colosseum c. 1745

Charles Michel Ange Challe made this drawing, "The Interior of the Colosseum," using black chalk and stumping. It is amazing how effective this simple combination can be. Chalk, after all, is just compressed earth, and stumping is simply the action of rubbing that chalk into paper. The technique gives the drawing a hazy quality, fitting for a picture of a ruin. The ancient Colosseum was built of travertine limestone, quarried and stacked with precision, a testament to engineering and human labor. Yet here, Challe makes it seem almost like a natural formation, a cave receding into darkness. Notice how the artist uses the chalk to create contrasts between light and shadow, emphasizing the scale and depth of the Colosseum's interior. By focusing on the monument’s decay, Challe subtly reminds us of the passage of time, and the forces of nature that can overcome even the most impressive human achievements. The drawing prompts us to think about the labor and skill involved in creating both the Colosseum, and the image itself.