Eine Elfe, ein Tablett tragend c. 1867 - 1868

Paul Konewka made this pencil sketch of an elf carrying a tray sometime in the 19th century. Pencil, as a medium, democratized drawing. The industrial production of pencils in the 19th century made art materials cheaper and more accessible than ever. Consider the directness and relative speed of the medium. Here, the artist has captured a fleeting vision with an immediacy not possible in painting or sculpture. The softness of the graphite allows for easy corrections, and the layering of tones to create depth and shadow. Notice how the artist has used the side of the pencil to create soft, blurred lines, and the tip to create sharp, precise details. The very act of sketching embodies labor - the physical act of applying pencil to paper. This sketch also embodies social commentary, blurring the lines between the fine arts and more accessible creative practices of its time. By engaging with this work through its materials and making, we appreciate the wider cultural context in which it was conceived.