Ruïne van Kasteel Drachenfels c. 1860 - 1865

This drawing of the Ruïne van Kasteel Drachenfels was created by Maria Vos, using graphite on paper. The medium of graphite gives this artwork a unique texture. You can see the subtle sheen of the graphite catching the light, as well as the varying pressure of the artist's hand in the application of the material, particularly when shading the ruins. The artist has chosen a humble material to depict a grandiose subject, as this graphite drawing, made with a simple process, renders the aesthetic qualities of the ruins. The drawing would have been created using simple tools, yet demands high skill and vision to make this image. The paper support, with its own history of production, gives the work a sense of immediacy. This is a work that reminds us that all art, whatever its apparent subject, emerges from specific material and labor conditions.