Landscape with a Poplar and a Willow Tree at the Edge of a Pond 1787 - 1842

Jean Victor Bertin made this drawing of a landscape with trees using graphite on paper. The material itself is quite humble. Graphite, essentially refined charcoal, has been used for sketching and drawing for centuries, prized for its ability to create nuanced shades of gray. Paper, too, while now ubiquitous, was once a precious commodity, handmade from fibers and carefully sized to receive the artist's marks. Looking at the drawing, you can almost feel the artist's hand moving across the page, building up layers of graphite to create the forms of the trees and the reflections in the pond. The graphite lends itself to the depiction of light and shadow, giving the scene a sense of depth and atmosphere. The artist's skill in manipulating this simple material elevates the drawing beyond a mere study into a work of art in its own right. The drawing invites us to consider the value we place on both materials and skill, and to challenge the traditional hierarchy between fine art and craft.