Moat at Fort Marion, Florida c. 1874

This drawing of the Moat at Fort Marion in Florida was made by James Wells Champney, using graphite on paper. In this instance the artist chose a readily available material; the graphite pencil, a relatively new invention at the time, perfectly suited to the creation of a quick study. The soft, almost smudged quality of the graphite gives the image a dreamlike feel, softening the hard edges of the fort. You can see how Champney used the side of the pencil to create broad areas of tone, particularly in the sky and foreground, giving depth to the scene. The marks made by the artist show his engagement with a rich history of creative practices, and the aesthetics of the image are tied to wider social issues of labor and consumption. Ultimately, the drawing's success lies in the way Champney manipulated his materials. By understanding the properties of graphite, he was able to create a work that is both informative and atmospheric, challenging the traditional separation of craft and fine art.