Knielende man Possibly 1873

Cornelis Springer made this pencil drawing, titled "Kneeling Man", sometime in the mid-19th century. The very directness of the medium is revealing. Pencil is an unassuming material, a mixture of graphite and clay, and its application is similarly straightforward: the artist makes direct marks onto the paper surface to create lines and shading. The qualities of the pencil – its hardness or softness, sharpness, and the pressure applied – all influence the darkness and thickness of the lines. Springer uses the pencil to capture the figure's form, using denser marks to define the contours and volume of the clothing. The social context of the drawing resides in its immediacy. It speaks to the tradition of sketching from life, and the need to quickly capture the image, action, or pose, reducing the figure to its essential elements. The drawing gives us a sense of an individual observed, and recorded with a level of detail indicative of careful study. By understanding the materiality and process involved, we can appreciate the artistry and the intention behind the work.