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Ink Drawing

With the use of pictographs dating back as early as Prehistoric times, drawing is undoubtedly one of the oldest forms of human expression. While drawing has existed through all ages (especially in Asia, where it was a preeminent artistic medium), its forms and uses truly started to diversify in the 19th century. Following the industrial revolution of the 1800s, technical drawing began to take off and to differentiate itself from artistic drawings. As a result, it became highly codified and aimed to communicate precise information about how something should be manufactured or used. Similarly, architecture  and design drawings, as well as fashion illustration became more developed.

There are a number of drawing techniques available to artists who can choose to alternate between charcoal drawing, pencil drawing, dry pastels, chalk, coloured pencils, or ink. This selection focuses on the latter, the ancestral drawing technique of ink on paper. Exclusively used for writing for a long time, ink gradually established itself within the visual arts. Diluted, mixed, or pure, ink offers an infinite range of nuances. Artists can use various types of ink but the mark of a good quality ink its ability to flow and and instantly attach to paper.

The most famous type of ink is Indian ink. Invented 5,000 years ago, this quality black ink brings a shiny effect to the drawing. Ink was first used in Asia but became popular in Europe in the Middle Ages, where it was first used to decorate the manuscripts. Its use became more widespread with the dissemination of printing techniques in the Renaissance. Dürer, Cranach and Titian were some of the first artists to use ink for strictly artistic purposes, and the great masters of the 19th and 20th centuries continued to develop the technique further.

Iron gall ink, quite popular because it could be manufactured in mass quantities, it was resistant and was the most compatible ink for writing with quills. Coloured inks, although more vulnerable to light, were popular within the decorative arts and illustration. They are composed of specific pigments, similar to those of watercolour.

One of the world's most famous ink artworks is perhaps The Great Wave off Kanagawa by the great Japanese master Hokusai: first of the series “The Thirty-Six views of the Mount Fuji." Often imitated by other artists, the Wave (as it is often referred to) is an woodblock print influenced by both Western and Eastern artistic practices. Other famous ink artworks include many of Leonardo da Vinci's drawings.

Many museums exhibit numerous ink drawings. For example, the Centre Pompidou owns Henri Michaux's “Dessin Mescalien," and Jean-Olivier Hucleux's “Dessin de Déprogrammation."

So, whether you are a lover of Hokusai's poetic prints, or merely curious about this lesser known art, you'll be able to find a rare gem in Artsper's selection of contemporary ink drawings.

Collector’s Guide: Collecting Drawings

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Robert Combas, Les yeux fermier !, Fine Art Drawings

Robert Combas

Les yeux fermier !, 2020
18.1 x 11.8 inch
Fine Art Drawings

$18,818

Philippe Pasqua, Sans titre, Fine Art Drawings

Philippe Pasqua

Sans titre, 2010
15.7 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch
Fine Art Drawings

$3,764

Jean-Luc Lopez, Rock and Roll, Fine Art Drawings

Jean-Luc Lopez

Rock and Roll, 2021
14.2 x 18.9 inch
Fine Art Drawings

$427

EMPHI, Pattern, Fine Art Drawings

EMPHI

Pattern, 2020
13.8 x 13.8 x 0 inch
Fine Art Drawings

$602 $753

Noël Granger, Orchidée rose, Fine Art Drawings

Noël Granger

Orchidée rose, 2018
19.7 x 13.6 inch
Fine Art Drawings

$138

Zin Taylor, Bzzzz, said Zig Zag, in the presence of Solid Foam, Fine Art Drawings

Zin Taylor

Bzzzz, said Zig Zag, in the presence of Solid Foam, 2014
27.6 x 19.7 inch
Fine Art Drawings

$5,018

Ola-Dele Kuku, Dilemma of thought VI, Fine Art Drawings

Ola-Dele Kuku

Dilemma of thought VI, 2016
16.5 x 11.6 x 0 inch
Fine Art Drawings

$753

Patricia Erbelding, Blues 9, Fine Art Drawings

Patricia Erbelding

Blues 9, 2020
39.4 x 39.4 x 1.2 inch
Fine Art Drawings

$6,348

Véronique Hubert, Fille de Arbus et Arp II, Fine Art Drawings

Véronique Hubert

Fille de Arbus et Arp II, 2008
19.7 x 12.7 x 0.1 inch
Fine Art Drawings

$753

Carmen Magem, Perfil, Fine Art Drawings

Carmen Magem

Perfil, 2018
20.9 x 16.5 inch
Fine Art Drawings

< $ 2,500

Pierre Alechinsky, Restez assis, Fine Art Drawings

Pierre Alechinsky

Restez assis, 1982
8.7 x 10.4 x 1.2 inch
Fine Art Drawings

$15,682

Antony Squizzato, Cœur tendre, Fine Art Drawings

Antony Squizzato

Cœur tendre, 2021
15.7 x 11.8 x 0 inch
Fine Art Drawings

$439

Philippe Buil, Ombre Clochette, Fine Art Drawings

Philippe Buil

Ombre Clochette, 2018
19.7 x 25.6 x 0.1 inch
Fine Art Drawings

$439

Our recommendations Hildegarde Handsaeme, La Signorita, Fine Art Drawings

Hildegarde Handsaeme

La Signorita, 2020
29.9 x 21.7 x 0.4 inch
Fine Art Drawings

$477

Jean Cocteau, La Sanfiliste, Fine Art Drawings

Jean Cocteau

La Sanfiliste, 1936
10 x 9.4 x 0.4 inch
Fine Art Drawings

$8,155

Gina Vor, Small Blue Sign No 10 | Abstrait Minimaliste, Fine Art Drawings

Gina Vor

Small Blue Sign No 10 | Abstrait Minimaliste, 2020
9.4 x 6.7 x 0 inch
Fine Art Drawings

$107

Vladimir Velickovic, Sans titre, Fine Art Drawings

Vladimir Velickovic

Sans titre, 2008
11.7 x 7.1 inch
Fine Art Drawings

$1,443

Sergio Moscona, Les architectes de la parole III, Fine Art Drawings

Sergio Moscona

Les architectes de la parole III, 2011
47.2 x 15.7 x 0.4 inch
Fine Art Drawings

$6,022

Philippe Ramette, Rupture de pesanteur, Fine Art Drawings

Philippe Ramette

Rupture de pesanteur, 2015
9.4 x 12.6 inch
Fine Art Drawings

$2,885

tizlu, Saving Audrey, Fine Art Drawings

tizlu

Saving Audrey, 2021
27.6 x 19.7 inch
Fine Art Drawings

$624 $878

Jiao Jia Ou Yang, Bonheur, Fine Art Drawings

Jiao Jia Ou Yang

Bonheur, 2020
7.9 x 7.9 inch
Fine Art Drawings

$414

Chrystèle Saint-Amaux, Saynète 32 - Se Souvenir du temps qui passe, Fine Art Drawings

Chrystèle Saint-Amaux

Saynète 32 - Se Souvenir du temps qui passe, 2016
16.1 x 24 x 0.2 inch
Fine Art Drawings

$753

Shaka, Etude 1, Fine Art Drawings

Shaka

Etude 1, 2014
29.5 x 22.8 inch
Fine Art Drawings

$565

Pauline Di Valentin, Crossing TV, Fine Art Drawings

Pauline Di Valentin

Crossing TV, 2019
23.6 x 15.7 x 0 inch
Fine Art Drawings

$502

Arancha Tejedor, Personnages en mouvement 10, Fine Art Drawings

Arancha Tejedor

Personnages en mouvement 10, 2019
15.7 x 11.8 x 0.2 inch
Fine Art Drawings

$201

Caroline Veith, L'été indien, Fine Art Drawings

Caroline Veith

L'été indien, 2016
31.5 x 43.3 x 1.2 inch
Fine Art Drawings

$3,513

Tracey Adams, Balancing Act 2, Fine Art Drawings

Tracey Adams

Balancing Act 2, 2016
26 x 20 inch
Fine Art Drawings

$1,895

Benoît Mauduech, Sans titre, Fine Art Drawings

Benoît Mauduech

Sans titre, 2019
8.3 x 11.7 x 1.2 inch
Fine Art Drawings

$401

Revolt, Rolling Thunder-SG, Fine Art Drawings

Revolt

Rolling Thunder-SG, 2011
11 x 8 inch
Fine Art Drawings

$753

Arman, Watch Gears, Fine Art Drawings

Arman

Watch Gears, 1979
34 x 27 inch
Fine Art Drawings

$25,000

Mimmo Rotella, The Waiter, Fine Art Drawings

Mimmo Rotella

The Waiter, 1987
11.4 x 8.3 x 0 inch
Fine Art Drawings

$1,505

Han Qi, Espace fiction no. 1, Fine Art Drawings

Han Qi

Espace fiction no. 1, 2018
16.3 x 20.1 x 0.4 inch
Fine Art Drawings

$753

Pablo Picasso, Profil d'homme (recto); Deux hommes de profil (verso), Fine Art Drawings

Pablo Picasso

Profil d'homme (recto); Deux hommes de profil (verso), 1900
11.25 x 9 inch
Fine Art Drawings

$125,000

Wifredo Lam, Fresh sketch, Fine Art Drawings

Wifredo Lam

Fresh sketch, 1970
13.4 x 11.4 x 0.1 inch
Fine Art Drawings

$5,018

Ladislas Kijno, Composition, Fine Art Drawings

Ladislas Kijno

Composition, 1960
18.9 x 29.9 x 1.6 inch
Fine Art Drawings

$5,646

Eugene Berman, Costume, Fine Art Drawings

Eugene Berman

Costume, 1950
6.5 x 4.6 x 0 inch
Fine Art Drawings

$753

Maria Qamar, Trump Slap, Fine Art Drawings

Maria Qamar

Trump Slap, 2019
30 x 40 inch
Fine Art Drawings

$500

Mister Pee, Figure Libre, Fine Art Drawings

Mister Pee

Figure Libre, 2019
15.7 x 11.8 inch
Fine Art Drawings

$502

Aurélie Lafourcade, Taches, Fine Art Drawings

Aurélie Lafourcade

Taches, 2019
23.6 x 19.7 inch
Fine Art Drawings

$815

Boris Pramatarov, The Life Of The Artist, Fine Art Drawings

Boris Pramatarov

The Life Of The Artist, 2020
11.8 x 8.3 inch
Fine Art Drawings

$2,509

Our recommendations Lucio Fontana, Untitled, Fine Art Drawings

Lucio Fontana

Untitled, 1959
14.2 x 9.3 x 0.2 inch
Fine Art Drawings

$19,446

Mohamed Lekleti, Untitled, Fine Art Drawings

Mohamed Lekleti

Untitled, 2015
11.8 x 11.8 inch
Fine Art Drawings

$2,509

André Bielen, Synopsie_0355, Fine Art Drawings

André Bielen

Synopsie_0355, 2015
28.7 x 22 inch
Fine Art Drawings

$941

Maurice Douard, Street n-3, Fine Art Drawings

Maurice Douard

Street n-3, 2019
43.3 x 29.5 inch
Fine Art Drawings

$1,882

Our recommendations La Robotte, Toucanne, Fine Art Drawings

La Robotte

Toucanne, 2017
25.6 x 19.7 x 0.1 inch
Fine Art Drawings

$439

Jérôme Bouscarat, L'Hydre de Lerne, Fine Art Drawings

Jérôme Bouscarat

L'Hydre de Lerne, 2019
15.7 x 11.8 x 0.2 inch
Fine Art Drawings

$542

Michel Pinosa, Sky, Fine Art Drawings

Michel Pinosa

Sky, 2013
20.9 x 12.2 x 0.8 inch
Fine Art Drawings

$1,129

Lajos Szalay, Caresse tempérée, Fine Art Drawings

Lajos Szalay

Caresse tempérée, 1970
12.2 x 9.6 inch
Fine Art Drawings

$4,893

Aurélien Desbois, Glacier du Gabietou, Fine Art Drawings

Aurélien Desbois

Glacier du Gabietou, 2017
25.6 x 19.7 x 0.1 inch
Fine Art Drawings

$627

Rolf Julius, Some liquid (green) sounds, Fine Art Drawings

Rolf Julius

Some liquid (green) sounds, 2000
11.6 x 9.6 inch
Fine Art Drawings

$1,882

Christophe Faso, La dernière séance, Fine Art Drawings

Christophe Faso

La dernière séance, 2014
25.6 x 19.7 x 0.1 inch
Fine Art Drawings

$842

ARySQUE, Ceci est une conversation sérieuse et raisonnable, Fine Art Drawings

ARySQUE

Ceci est une conversation sérieuse et raisonnable, 2016
9.1 x 12.2 inch
Fine Art Drawings

$439

Haude Bernabé, Polymorphismes IV, Fine Art Drawings

Haude Bernabé

Polymorphismes IV, 2018
29.9 x 22 inch
Fine Art Drawings

$3,638

Daniel Erban, Violent delights, violent ends, Fine Art Drawings

Daniel Erban

Violent delights, violent ends, 1991
22 x 29.9 inch
Fine Art Drawings

$2,509

Our recommendations Samaneh Atef, Sans titre, Fine Art Drawings

Samaneh Atef

Sans titre, 2020
19.7 x 27.6 x 2 inch
Fine Art Drawings

$2,384

Marie Laurencin, Models, Fine Art Drawings

Marie Laurencin

Models, 1920
10.2 x 8.7 x 0 inch
Fine Art Drawings

$23,837

Vuk Vidor, Mash #33, Fine Art Drawings

Vuk Vidor

Mash #33, 2009
59.1 x 43.3 inch
Fine Art Drawings

$5,018

Inge Horup, Untitled, Fine Art Drawings

Inge Horup

Untitled, 2015
22.4 x 15 inch
Fine Art Drawings

$314

Luigi Cipallone, Composition, Fine Art Drawings

Luigi Cipallone

Composition, 1980
9.6 x 13.8 x 0.1 inch
Fine Art Drawings

$401

David Shrigley, Why do you weap, Fine Art Drawings

David Shrigley

Why do you weap, 2006
15.7 x 11.8 x 0.4 inch
Fine Art Drawings

$6,273

Béatrice Bescond, Fractale 2, Fine Art Drawings

Béatrice Bescond

Fractale 2, 2018
15.4 x 15.4 inch
Fine Art Drawings

$941

Marcel Gromaire, Untitled, Fine Art Drawings

Marcel Gromaire

Untitled, 1951
15.9 x 19.5 x 0.1 inch
Fine Art Drawings

$8,656

Moolinex, Baise moi, Fine Art Drawings

Moolinex

Baise moi, 2004
39.4 x 27.6 x 0.1 inch
Fine Art Drawings

$1,756

Guillaume Piot, L'art de la Guerre, Fine Art Drawings

Guillaume Piot

L'art de la Guerre, 2017
25.6 x 19.7 inch
Fine Art Drawings

$1,505

60 Artworks on 2698

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