Landschap met bomen 1807 - 1861

This is a landscape with trees by Cornelis Steffelaar, made with pen in gray. The ink creates subtle gradations, and the trees are rendered with painstaking detail. Steffelaar captures the essence of each leaf and branch. The ink-on-paper technique gives the drawing a delicate quality. The choice of pen and ink as the medium is essential to how we perceive the image. Steffelaar has used the traditional technique of drawing, requiring precision, patience and a steady hand. There’s an intimacy to the landscape that the artist invites the viewer to share. It is a scene that would have been readily accessible to him. The making is foregrounded and we are reminded of the human labor involved in bringing this scene to life. Recognizing the value of the drawing's material and making can offer insight into the social and cultural context in which Steffelaar was working. It encourages us to appreciate the significance of the artist’s touch.