Sitzende Rückenfigur eines Zeichners mit dem Skizzenbuch auf den Knien 

Wilhelm von Kobell made this drawing of a seated figure, possibly in the early 19th century, using graphite on paper. Here, the artist has made use of minimal means – a pointed piece of graphite and a sheet of paper – to create an image of a person engaged in the act of creation. Graphite, essentially purified carbon, allows for a range of tonal values depending on the pressure applied. You’ll notice how Kobell employs this, using the side of the graphite to create soft shadows, and a finer point for more defined lines. This isn't just a portrait, it's a statement about the value of observation and the translation of the world into art, through readily available materials. It celebrates not just the subject, but the act and means of artistic production itself.