Figuur op een pad richting het station van Capelle aan den IJssel 1865

Johannes Tavenraat made this quick sketch with pen in 1865, and it is a study of a figure on a path towards the station of Capelle aan den IJssel. The work is made from humble materials: pen, ink, and paper. It’s a simple combination, but one that carries a lot of cultural weight, since sketching was essential to the academic training of artists in the 19th century. Tavenraat shows off his control of line and tone. You can see the layering, where he adds depth and volume to the depiction of the person on the road. The thinness of the lines show us the paper's texture, and you can see the mark-making that indicates foliage. The speed and economy of the drawing speaks to the social conditions of its making. The artist needed to be efficient in recording the world around him, and the drawing may have served as the basis for a more elaborate work. This drawing is significant for how it demonstrates that everyday materials and processes can result in skillful artworks, challenging distinctions between fine art and craft.