Lepanto, Costa Rica 

Muirhead Bone created this drawing, Lepanto, Costa Rica, using graphite. At first glance, the subtle gradations of tone capture a tranquil coastal scene, where mountains meet the sea. Bone’s careful arrangement, positioning the land masses as distinct horizontal layers, encourages our eyes to systematically explore the composition. The artist’s lines subtly guide us from the tranquil waters up to the rugged peaks, where light and shadow dance across their surfaces. A small ship rests on the water, which serves to enhance the vastness of the landscape. Bone's choice to render the scene in graphite might reflect a broader artistic interest in the interplay between realism and representation. By embracing a monochrome palette, he strips away the distractions of colour, inviting us to consider the fundamental relationship between form and space. This artwork thus presents not just a landscape, but a study in perception.