Schetsblad 1770 - 1778

Jan Brandes created this sketch on paper sometime before 1808, using a graphite pencil. The thin graphite lines have a fineness that’s lovely to see, even in an age of digital reproduction. The paper itself, though now aged and foxed, gives a sense of Brandes’ direct engagement with the world around him. This wasn't a commission, carefully considered, but a quick impression. You can almost feel the artist capturing a fleeting moment. The sketch shows a horse-drawn cart, perhaps on a road outside the city, with a landscape study below. What makes this simple drawing so compelling is the immediacy of the medium. Paper and pencil are direct, demanding a minimum of technology. They are also cheap, readily available, and portable. In this case, the drawing gives us a clear window into the artist's world. It also challenges the idea of 'high art', reminding us that sometimes the most profound statements are made with the simplest of means.