Landscape with Figures under Pollarded Trees c. 1850 - 1860

James Duffield Harding made this drawing, Landscape with Figures under Pollarded Trees, using graphite and wash on paper. Look at the way he’s used these simple materials. Graphite, being easily blendable, allows for the depiction of light and shadow, giving depth and volume to the trees. The wash creates broad areas of tone, establishing the overall atmosphere and suggesting the dampness of the landscape. Notice how Harding focuses on texture, especially in the bark of the pollarded trees. The cross-hatching and varied pressure in the graphite strokes mimic the rough, gnarled surface of the wood. The figures are less defined, almost swallowed by the landscape, perhaps indicating their relationship to it. Harding was deeply interested in the natural world, and sought to portray its textures and forms with accuracy and feeling. Yet the figures hint at the human presence within the landscape, hinting at the labour and lives intertwined with the natural world. Recognizing the materiality and processes behind artwork helps us understand its meaning more fully, challenging distinctions between art and craft.