Der Maler Wick in ganzer Figur 

Curator: Welcome. Here we have Johann Heinrich Hasselhorst's pencil drawing, "Der Maler Wick in ganzer Figur" from the Städel Museum's collection. Editor: The preliminary nature is quite striking—all soft graphite lines and visible paper texture. There's an immediacy to it that I find appealing. Curator: Note the economy of line. The artist uses varying pressure to suggest volume and texture without relying on extensive shading or detail. Look particularly at the coat and how the folds are conveyed. Editor: Precisely. And how does the choice of graphite—such a humble material—inform our understanding? Graphite's accessibility surely democratizes the artistic process, allowing for easy correction, almost as a casual study. Curator: A compelling point. It does highlight the act of observation. Consider how Hasselhorst has captured the essential form of Wick: his stance, the fall of the light, the planes of the face. Editor: This feels so far away from the idealized portraiture often showcased; it is as though we are catching him *in media res,* which really helps the study in a kind of social context. This almost blurs lines between art and observation. Curator: Yes! It is an artwork offering glimpses into the world of its creation—a direct connection to a moment in the studio, an intimacy made available through process and approach. Editor: Reflecting, I see this simple sketch not merely as a portrait, but as evidence of an artist capturing the likeness of another, made evident by a specific medium. It is a study on its own! Curator: Precisely. Thank you for helping reveal deeper layers within this sketch, especially the context brought in, showing how art material plays the biggest role.