Ink Drawing for Sale

Drawing is undoubtedly one of the oldest forms of human expression, with the use of the pictograph as early as prehistoric times. If ink drawing has been present in many periods, and in a very widespread way in Asia, its forms and representations seem to diversify especially from the 19th century. Following the rise of industrial production, technical drawing (or industrial drawing) developed and was clearly distinguished from artistic drawing. In fact, it became very codified and aimed at communicating very precise information about a manufacture or a use. Thus, in the same vein, we find fashion drawings for example. Drawing also seems to be very present in the fields of design or architecture...

There are many drawing techniques: charcoal, pencil, dry or oil pastel, chalk, colored pencils... and of course ink! 

For a long time reserved for writing, ink is gradually making its way into art. Diluted, mixed or pure, ink offers an almost infinite palette of nuances. A quality ink must be fluid and fix instantly on the paper. It marks the white sheet of paper by leaving a trace whose installation and drying time are relatively fast. There are several types of ink that can be used for drawing.

The best known? The Indian ink. It appeared nearly 5000 years ago, this black ink, very qualitative, brings a brilliant effect to the drawing. It became popular in Europe in the Middle Ages, where it was first used to decorate manuscript illuminations. It is also found in the Renaissance in the field of printing. From a formal artistic point of view, the great names of the time such as Albrecht Dürer, Lucas Cranach or Titian began to use it in engraving. Artists found other uses for it in the 19th and 20th centuries.

The ink of walnut, quite widespread because it can be manufactured in large quantities, is the only ink that is perfectly compatible with writing with a fine pen. More fragile to light but no less popular for decorative drawing or illustration, colored inks are composed of special pigments similar to those used in watercolors.

Probably the most famous ink artwork in the world remains "The Great Wave of Kanagawa" by the great Japanese master Hokusai: the first in the series "Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji". Imitated but never equaled, the Wave with its light tones of white and grey-blue is a print surfing on Western and Eastern artistic influences.

Are you in love with Hokusai's poetry or simply curious to explore this unique artistic genre? Emerging and established artists are waiting for you in our selection dedicated to ink drawing: discover Éléonore Deshayes, Lali Torma or Manuel Santelices! Don't wait any longer to look for the rare gem...