Landschap aan de Waal bij Nijmegen en landschappen bij Oosterbeek 1868 - 1869

This graphite-on-paper sketchbook page, by Johannes Tavenraat, captures landscapes near Nijmegen and Oosterbeek. Here we see the artist's process at work, in humble materials. Graphite, derived from the earth and bound in a wooden stick, is immediacy itself. The artist could quickly capture the scenes before him, in a tonal range from the faintest whisper to dense, dark marks. The tooth of the paper grabs the graphite, creating texture. This directness is in keeping with the en plein air movement of the mid-19th century, which shifted the site of art-making from the studio to the world outside. But in this case, the scenes are captured in a portable sketchbook, not as finished paintings. The artist moves and re-positions himself, turning the page, looking at the landscape from different angles. Tavenraat is registering the world around him, but also working within the intimate scale of the book. We see the artist’s hand and the way these materials have been handled, which allows us a valuable glimpse into the artist's own direct experience.