Propped-up male nude leaning on a cushion 1600 - 1624

This drawing, "Propped-up male nude leaning on a cushion," of unknown date was made with red and black chalk on paper, by an anonymous artist. The artist's choice of chalk is significant. Chalk, unlike paint, is immediate, allowing for direct contact between the artist's hand and the page. We see the build-up of chalk in areas of shadow, a physical record of the artist’s process of modeling the figure. The red chalk gives warmth to the skin, while the black chalk adds depth to the cushions. Drawing was seen as a fundamental skill, essential to any artist's training. Yet, it was often considered a preparatory step, a means to an end, rather than a finished work in itself. However, the immediacy and intimacy of chalk drawings like this one reveal the artist's hand, and allow us to appreciate the skill and labor involved in the artistic process, challenging traditional distinctions between fine art and craft.