Italienische Landschaft mit Ölbäumen 

This Italian landscape with olive trees was sketched by Friedrich Metz, likely ‘en plein air’, using graphite pencil on paper. The softness of the graphite lends itself to atmospheric effects, capturing the hazy light and the subtle gradations of tone in the scene. You can see how the artist used delicate lines to create a sense of depth and distance. The tooth of the paper also plays a role, catching the graphite and creating a slightly textured surface. Graphite itself is a fascinating material; a form of carbon, it is soft enough to leave a mark on paper with very little pressure. It also allows for easy erasure and adjustment, which you can see in the faint lines and corrections throughout the drawing. This immediacy makes it the perfect material for artists working outdoors, capturing a fleeting impression of a place. Considering the material qualities of graphite and paper allows us to appreciate the artist’s skill in capturing the essence of the Italian landscape. This challenges the traditional distinction between a quick sketch and a finished work of art.