Narziß betrachtet sich in der Quelle 

Nicolas Poussin rendered "Narziß betrachtet sich in der Quelle" with pen and brown ink, heightened with brown wash, on paper, around the mid-17th century. Poussin's technique here is particularly telling. The pen work is economical yet descriptive, with delicate lines defining the figures and landscape, while the brown wash adds depth and volume with layers of diluted ink, manipulating light and shadow. The process involved skilled drawing and brushwork. Brown ink, derived from natural sources, added a tonal richness that printing, for instance, couldn't match. The paper, likely handmade from pulped rags, provided a receptive surface, the texture influencing the ink's absorption and the overall appearance of the drawing. These materials and processes are not industrial. They speak to a time when artistic creation depended on individual skill and manual labor. The drawing's intimate scale and delicate execution underscore the value of craftsmanship and the artist's personal connection to the work.