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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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Éléonore Deshayes, Encre rouge n°1, Fine Art Drawings

Éléonore Deshayes

Encre rouge n°1, 2021
19.7 x 15.7 x 0.1 inch
Fine Art Drawings

$1,446

Henryk Drzewiecki, Mix 074, Fine Art Drawings

Henryk Drzewiecki

Mix 074, 2019
3 x 2.2 inch
Fine Art Drawings

$120

Philippe Pasqua, Sans titre, Fine Art Drawings

Philippe Pasqua

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

$3,615

Stanislav Bojankov, Nocturne CXCXXVII, Fine Art Drawings

Stanislav Bojankov

Nocturne CXCXXVII, 2015
9.8 x 13.8 x 0 inch
Fine Art Drawings

Sold

Linda Bachammar Clerget, Apprivoiser la nuit, Fine Art Drawings

Linda Bachammar Clerget

Apprivoiser la nuit, 2021
22 x 29.9 x 0.1 inch
Fine Art Drawings

$1,024

Elia Pagliarino, Cinabre #3, Fine Art Drawings

Elia Pagliarino

Cinabre #3, 2020
28.3 x 20.5 inch
Fine Art Drawings

$904

Nicole Leidenfrost, Stier 2, Fine Art Drawings

Nicole Leidenfrost

Stier 2, 2019
23.5 x 16.5 inch
Fine Art Drawings

$880

LN Le Cheviller, Fifties - carré - 8, Fine Art Drawings

LN Le Cheviller

Fifties - carré - 8, 2018
19.7 x 19.7 x 0 inch
Fine Art Drawings

$361

Sandra Szaja, Pyla, Fine Art Drawings

Sandra Szaja

Pyla, 2021
25.6 x 19.7 x 0.1 inch
Fine Art Drawings

$1,205

Menachem Gueffen, Sans titre, Fine Art Drawings

Menachem Gueffen

Sans titre, 1992
16.5 x 11.4 x 2 inch
Fine Art Drawings

$349

Clara Crespin, Au creux de mes yeux, des fragments de nature., Fine Art Drawings

Clara Crespin

Au creux de mes yeux, des fragments de nature., 2021
25.6 x 19.7 x 0.1 inch
Fine Art Drawings

$904

Arman, Watch Gears, Fine Art Drawings

Arman

Watch Gears, 1979
34 x 27 inch
Fine Art Drawings

$25,000

Valerio Adami, Violin, Fine Art Drawings

Valerio Adami

Violin, 2005
8.5 x 5.3 inch
Fine Art Drawings

$1,024

Gina Vor, Small Sign No 4, Fine Art Drawings

Gina Vor

Small Sign No 4, 2019
9.4 x 6.7 x 0 inch
Fine Art Drawings

$90

Pierre Alechinsky, Sans-titre, Fine Art Drawings

Pierre Alechinsky

Sans-titre, 2016
10.8 x 7.3 inch
Fine Art Drawings

$4,217

Eduardo Arroyo, Sans-titre, Fine Art Drawings

Eduardo Arroyo

Sans-titre, 1959
10.6 x 6.9 inch
Fine Art Drawings

$1,386

Pauline Di Valentin, Storm, Fine Art Drawings

Pauline Di Valentin

Storm, 2020
27.6 x 19.7 x 0 inch
Fine Art Drawings

$843

Philippe Buil, Ombre Clochette, Fine Art Drawings

Philippe Buil

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

$422

Raphaël Federici (ParisSketchCulture), Dessin, Fine Art Drawings

Raphaël Federici (ParisSketchCulture)

Dessin, 2019
14.6 x 10.6 x 0.2 inch
Fine Art Drawings

$458

Ernest Pignon-Ernest, Etude pour Artaud, Fine Art Drawings

Ernest Pignon-Ernest

Etude pour Artaud, 2000
6.7 x 4.7 inch
Fine Art Drawings

$7,229

Hildegarde Handsaeme, Gracieuseté, Fine Art Drawings

Hildegarde Handsaeme

Gracieuseté, 2018
29.9 x 21.7 x 0.4 inch
Fine Art Drawings

$458

Jolanta Johnsson, Together, Fine Art Drawings

Jolanta Johnsson

Together, 1997
16.5 x 11.4 inch
Fine Art Drawings

$482

Vladimir Velickovic, Sans-titre, Fine Art Drawings

Vladimir Velickovic

Sans-titre, 2011
15 x 9.8 inch
Fine Art Drawings

$843

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

$2,410

Robert Combas, Les yeux fermier !, Fine Art Drawings

Robert Combas

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

$17,952

Christelle Link, Amabie, Fine Art Drawings

Christelle Link

Amabie, 2020
16.5 x 10.2 inch
Fine Art Drawings

$422

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

Benoît Mauduech, Diptyque sans titre, Fine Art Drawings

Benoît Mauduech

Diptyque sans titre, 2019
15.7 x 55.1 x 1.6 inch
Fine Art Drawings

$1,325

Agnieszka Staak-Janczarska, The Winter Forest II, Fine Art Drawings

Agnieszka Staak-Janczarska

The Winter Forest II, 2017
18.5 x 20.1 inch
Fine Art Drawings

$482

Our recommendations Tracey Adams, Balancing Act 2, Fine Art Drawings

Tracey Adams

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

$1,836

André Bielen, Synopsie 0561, Fine Art Drawings

André Bielen

Synopsie 0561, 2015
28.7 x 22 inch
Fine Art Drawings

$904

Sergio Moscona, Arbol genial - Logico, Fine Art Drawings

Sergio Moscona

Arbol genial - Logico, 2016
22 x 15 inch
Fine Art Drawings

$3,615

Gwendoline Hausermann, Some girls #2, Fine Art Drawings

Gwendoline Hausermann

Some girls #2, 2019
17.7 x 12.6 inch
Fine Art Drawings

$904

Philippe Ramette, Rupture de pesanteur, Fine Art Drawings

Philippe Ramette

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

$2,771

Arancha Tejedor, Personnages en mouvement 2, Fine Art Drawings

Arancha Tejedor

Personnages en mouvement 2, 2019
15.7 x 11.8 x 0.2 inch
Fine Art Drawings

$193

Aurélie Lafourcade, Taches, Fine Art Drawings

Aurélie Lafourcade

Taches, 2019
23.6 x 19.7 inch
Fine Art Drawings

$783

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

$723

Frédéric Dégranges, Trame 51, Fine Art Drawings

Frédéric Dégranges

Trame 51, 2014
10.6 x 19.7 inch
Fine Art Drawings

$2,048

Mathilde de Bellecombe, Beaucoup de choses à faire, Fine Art Drawings

Mathilde de Bellecombe

Beaucoup de choses à faire, 2013
4.7 x 4.7 x 0.4 inch
Fine Art Drawings

$157

Jan Sumiga, The girl with matches, Fine Art Drawings

Jan Sumiga

The girl with matches, 1996
9.4 x 7.1 inch
Fine Art Drawings

$843

Maurice Douard, Street n-3, Fine Art Drawings

Maurice Douard

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

$1,807

Andrzej Fogtt, The landscape / Le paysage, Fine Art Drawings

Andrzej Fogtt

The landscape / Le paysage, 2010
9.4 x 12.6 inch
Fine Art Drawings

$723

Mehdi Mirbagheri, Jack Danieel, Fine Art Drawings

Mehdi Mirbagheri

Jack Danieel, 2016
19.7 x 39.4 inch
Fine Art Drawings

$2,410

Haude Bernabé, Les sentinelles, Fine Art Drawings

Haude Bernabé

Les sentinelles, 2020
12.6 x 15.7 inch
Fine Art Drawings

$2,410

Józef Szajna, Lovers, Fine Art Drawings

Józef Szajna

Lovers, 1990
11.4 x 7.1 inch
Fine Art Drawings

$2,048

Marcela Zemanova, Noir et rouge III, Fine Art Drawings

Marcela Zemanova

Noir et rouge III, 2020
18.1 x 27.2 x 0.2 inch
Fine Art Drawings

$590

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

$3,615 $6,024

Lukasz Blikle, 2011.30, Fine Art Drawings

Lukasz Blikle

2011.30, 2010
27.6 x 39.4 inch
Fine Art Drawings

$602

Caroline Veith, Des fôrets et des hommes, Fine Art Drawings

Caroline Veith

Des fôrets et des hommes, 2013
15.7 x 19.7 x 1.2 inch
Fine Art Drawings

$2,289

Alain Boullet, L'eau et l'huile, Fine Art Drawings

Alain Boullet

L'eau et l'huile, 2015
13 x 19.7 inch
Fine Art Drawings

$602

Piotr Kamieniarz, Karnawal III, Fine Art Drawings

Piotr Kamieniarz

Karnawal III, 2020
20.5 x 27.6 x 0 inch
Fine Art Drawings

$1,325

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

$1,807

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

$808

Antoine Néron-Bancel, Colorama A, Fine Art Drawings

Antoine Néron-Bancel

Colorama A, 2014
18.9 x 14.2 x 1.2 inch
Fine Art Drawings

$2,169

Our recommendations Maria Qamar, Trump Slap, Fine Art Drawings

Maria Qamar

Trump Slap, 2019
30 x 40 inch
Fine Art Drawings

$500

Hanna Bakula, Some Turkish, again!, Fine Art Drawings

Hanna Bakula

Some Turkish, again!, 2018
11.8 x 8.3 inch
Fine Art Drawings

$964

Maciej Swieszewski, Composition (Drawing), Fine Art Drawings

Maciej Swieszewski

Composition (Drawing), 2016
4.7 x 3.9 inch
Fine Art Drawings

$964

Karol Drzewiecki, Untitled, Fine Art Drawings

Karol Drzewiecki

Untitled, 2020
8.3 x 5.7 inch
Fine Art Drawings

$301

Michael Grine, Lifesigns, Fine Art Drawings

Michael Grine

Lifesigns, 2015
12 x 9 x 0.01 inch
Fine Art Drawings

$100

Gergana Tabakova, Growing space VII, Fine Art Drawings

Gergana Tabakova

Growing space VII, 2017
9.8 x 9.8 x 0 inch
Fine Art Drawings

$602

Stephen and Lorna Kirin, Jacob's Ladder, Fine Art Drawings

Stephen and Lorna Kirin

Jacob's Ladder, 2018
22.8 x 18.5 x 0.4 inch
Fine Art Drawings

$1,271

Tellas, The Forest, Fine Art Drawings

Tellas

The Forest, 2017
9.4 x 25.2 x 0.2 inch
Fine Art Drawings

$1,868

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

Daniel Erban

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

$2,410

Moolinex, Baise moi, Fine Art Drawings

Moolinex

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

$1,687

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