Udsigt over København fra Frederiksberg bakke 1781

Jens Juel rendered this panoramic vista of Copenhagen from Frederiksberg hill with graphite on paper. Graphite, since its re-discovery in the 16th century, was increasingly refined for use in drawing. It allowed artists to achieve a precision and delicacy of line unavailable in older media like charcoal or chalk. This view, rapidly and economically recorded, would have served as a study for a more elaborate painting, one intended to convey the wealth and power of the Danish capital. We can see how the soft, almost hazy qualities of graphite perfectly capture the atmosphere of a distant cityscape. Notice the delicate rendering of the architectural details and the subtle gradations of tone that suggest depth and distance. Yet the drawing’s very modesty is telling. It speaks to the labor that underpins the entire artistic enterprise, the countless hours of observation and practice required to produce even the most seemingly effortless sketch. By focusing on the material and the process, we can appreciate the skill and craftsmanship involved in creating this beautiful and evocative work, and the wider creative economy that made it possible.