Scribble (from Sketchbook) 1811 - 1893

This page is from a sketchbook used by John William Casilear, likely made with graphite or charcoal on paper. While seemingly simple, this "Scribble" is actually quite revealing. Paper itself, though now commonplace, was once a precious commodity, handmade from pulped fibers. The artist's choice to use it, even for a simple sketch, speaks to a certain level of access and privilege. The act of drawing, too, should be considered. Casilear would have used a graphite stick, a relatively new technology in the 19th century. This mass-produced tool enabled a fluidity of line and subtle shading that would have been difficult to achieve with earlier drawing implements. The faint lines suggest Casilear may have been testing the tool’s capabilities, or perhaps blocking out a landscape composition. It challenges our notions of artistic labor, inviting us to consider the relationship between intention, material, and the final form. This "Scribble" reminds us that even the simplest acts of making are embedded in social and economic histories.