Augustus 1629 - 1680

This drawing, “Augustus,” is made in red chalk, a naturally tinted clay, by an anonymous artist. Chalk is an interesting medium. It is delicate and easily smudged, which lends itself to the airy, impressionistic quality seen here. Yet it’s also immediate, allowing for quick sketches and studies. Looking closely, you can see the artist used a variety of strokes, from fine lines to broader shading, to create depth and texture in the landscape and figures. The choice of red chalk adds warmth and earthiness to the scene of laborers harvesting a field. This connects directly to the subject matter, highlighting the physical labor and the natural world. The drawing’s rough and ready aesthetic mirrors the worker’s reality, and also reminds us that art making is also a skilled form of labor, which can ennoble even the most humble materials.