A Grazing Cow; Head of a Woman with Her Hand on Her Cheek, and Head of a Man with His Hand on His Ear [verso] 1884 - 1888

This undated drawing combines studies of a grazing cow on one side and heads of people on the other, created by Paul Gauguin using pencil and ink on paper. The immediacy of the sketch conveys the speed and efficiency of Gauguin's hand. Consider the artist's choice of materials, which are far from the grand gestures of oil paint on canvas. Here, it’s about accessibility, portability, and economy. Pencil and ink are the tools of the draftsman, allowing for quick studies and the capture of fleeting moments. The artist's focus wasn't on creating a finished masterpiece, but on capturing the essence of his subjects with a few lines. The social context of drawing is more intimate, more immediate, and perhaps more democratic. So, when we look at this work, we're not just seeing the artist's skill, but his engagement with the everyday, with the tools and materials that allow him to connect directly with the world around him.