Farmhouse c. 1770

Paul Sandby made this drawing of a Farmhouse using graphite and gray wash, sometime in the late 18th century. Sandby was trained as a military surveyor, and his skill shows in the precise rendering of the buildings and landscape. But this isn't just a record of a place. Look closely and you'll notice subtle gradations in the gray wash, giving the scene an atmospheric quality. The choice of graphite and wash is significant. These were practical, portable materials, ideal for an artist working outdoors, capturing scenes directly from life. Yet, Sandby elevates these humble materials through his artistry. He transforms a simple farmhouse into an object of beauty, worthy of attention. In doing so, he invites us to consider the lives of those who inhabited this space and to value the everyday. Sandby's Farmhouse reminds us that art can be found not only in grand subjects and traditional media, but also in the careful observation and skillful rendering of ordinary life.