Man Kneeling With Jug (recto); Standing Man (verso) n.d.

Nicolas Poussin rendered this drawing of a man kneeling with a jug, sometime in the 17th century, using graphite on paper. Graphite, a form of carbon, is a relatively soft material, and ideal for quick, expressive sketching. Poussin masterfully uses the medium to capture the human form, with loose lines suggesting movement and volume. The paper’s texture subtly interacts with the graphite, creating a range of tonal variations that enhance the drawing’s depth. The social context of drawing in Poussin’s time is important. Drawings like this were often preparatory studies for larger paintings, a crucial step in the academic art system. The artist would use drawings to explore composition, anatomy, and drapery before committing to the final work. This process emphasizes skilled hand work and intellectual refinement, valued within the art world. So, when looking at this drawing, consider not just the image, but the labor, materials, and systems that brought it into being.