Man in een mantel bij een stenen poort 1840 - 1846

Johannes Tavenraat made this pencil drawing of a figure by a stone gate. It’s a scene rendered with deceptive simplicity. Note how Tavenraat coaxes a full range of tones from this humble material. See how he articulates the rough texture of the stone with a light touch, while using heavier strokes to define the man's cloak. The artist's hand is evident in the subtle gradations of shading, creating depth and volume. This drawing reminds us that even the simplest of materials, like a humble graphite pencil, can be used to create enduring images. Consider how the economics of artistic production – the relative cheapness of paper and graphite – might have encouraged this kind of direct, observational approach. It certainly gave Tavenraat the freedom to document the world around him. And in doing so, he left us a timeless record of the human figure and the built environment.