Landschappen in Ginneken 1839

Johannes Tavenraat made this drawing, Landschappen in Ginneken, using graphite on paper in 1839. Graphite is an interesting material. It's a naturally occurring form of carbon, the same element that makes up diamonds, but with a very different structure that makes it soft and easily marked on surfaces. Here, Tavenraat exploits these qualities to capture the landscape. The graphite allows him to create a range of tones, from light greys to deep blacks, with a directness that suits the immediacy of the subject matter. You can almost feel the artist’s hand moving across the paper as he lays down these marks, quickly mapping out the forms of the trees, the buildings, and the surrounding foliage. The speed of graphite drawing also makes it a democratic medium; it invites spontaneity and experimentation, and the production of studies for larger works, dissolving distinctions between fine art and the everyday sketch.