Village on Lake Como: May 1, 1869 (verso, from sketchbook) 1869

This graphite drawing of Lake Como was made on May 1, 1869, by Jervis McEntee, in a humble sketchbook. The material itself, graphite, is interesting. It’s essentially pencil lead, a mundane material we associate with writing and casual mark-making. Yet in the hands of an artist like McEntee, it becomes a tool for capturing the essence of a place. Look closely, and you’ll see how he uses the graphite to create different textures and tones, from the rough stone of the buildings to the soft, distant mountains. The sketchbook format also tells us something. It suggests immediacy, a desire to record a fleeting impression. McEntee wasn’t creating a finished masterpiece, but rather engaging in a direct, almost tactile way, with his surroundings. This kind of intimate, process-oriented approach is something we often overlook in favor of grand narratives, but it’s essential to understanding the full spectrum of artistic practice. By valuing the sketch, we recognize the importance of the handmade, the personal, and the everyday in art.