Tegning af en munk og diverse skitser og blyantsrids 1861 - 1865

This drawing of a monk with sketches and pencil scratches was made by Carl Bloch, using graphite on paper. This material has a humble character; graphite is simply carbon, and paper a common substrate. The artist probably held the paper and pencil in his own hand and applied different amounts of pressure to create rough and light sketching with detailed lines. The artist also used smudging techniques to create shadow and depth. The very act of sketching embodies a kind of labor – of thought made visible through repetitive marks. The artist uses the flexibility of graphite to explore composition and form. These techniques, and the inherent qualities of the material, have imbued the drawing with a sense of immediacy, reflecting the artist's intention and skill. The way in which the graphite adheres to the paper makes one think about the connection between the hand and the mind. So, we have to see these works not as lesser than painting, but perhaps as a closer view into the thought process of the artist.