Muiderslot 1868 - 1869

This is Isaac Gosschalk's 1860 sketch of Muiderslot, likely made en plein air with graphite on paper. The artist's hand is evident in the variations of line and tone, and the material qualities of graphite – its capacity for both delicate and bold strokes – are fully exploited. The choice of graphite as a medium speaks to a tradition of preparatory sketches, where immediacy and portability are valued. We can consider this drawing in relation to the rise of industrial graphite production in the 19th century, where its accessibility as a material influenced its widespread use among artists and amateurs alike. The architectural and landscape elements are rendered with a sense of spontaneity, almost as if the artist was capturing the moment and feeling of being present. The sketch provides a fascinating glimpse into the artist's working process, as well as the social context in which such images were created. This reminds us that art is as much about the act of making as it is about the final product.