Rozen 1831 - 1832

This drawing of a rose was created by Anton Weiss sometime in the first half of the 19th century, using graphite on paper. Think about the inherent qualities of graphite: its softness, its capacity to create delicate gradations of tone, and its relative ease of erasure. Weiss exploits all of these. The velvety texture of the rose petals is beautifully rendered with subtle shading, and the artist coaxes out a sense of three-dimensionality. Consider too that in the 1800s, graphite pencils were becoming more widely available, transforming drawing from a preliminary step to a fine art medium in its own right. Weiss's close study of nature also connects to a broader scientific impulse of the era. It's as though he's dissecting the bloom with his pencil, revealing its intricate structure. So, next time you see a humble graphite drawing, remember that it can be much more than just a sketch. It can be a window into both the natural world, and the changing status of art materials.