Huis tussen de bomen aan een waterkant c. 1891

Egbert Rubertus Derk Schaap made this drawing of a house among trees on a waterfront with graphite on paper. The character of the graphite is crucial here; the artist coaxes a full range of tonal values from the medium, going from the barely-there outlines of distant trees, to the intense, almost velvety darks of the vegetation reflected in the water. This approach allows for spontaneity, with Schaap capturing the fleeting effects of light and atmosphere, and the sense of the place being observed in real time. Graphite is, of course, the residue of the pencil, an instrument that became increasingly common in the 19th century. This drawing speaks to the growing culture of artistic engagement with the everyday, not just the sphere of professional artmaking. By taking seriously the aesthetic potential of simple materials, Schaap challenges traditional boundaries between fine art and the craft of drawing, reminding us that beauty can be found in the most humble of means.