(From Sketchbook) 1810 - 1820

This is a page from a sketchbook by Thomas Sully, probably made in the first half of the 19th century, using graphite and watercolor washes on paper. The immediacy of the sketch gives a glimpse into the artist’s working method. Graphite is a readily available material, mined and processed for a growing consumer culture, reflecting shifting social dynamics of labor and production. Watercolor, meanwhile, offers a portable and efficient way to capture light and form. Look at how Sully uses the fluidity of watercolor to quickly establish the figures' forms, and the built environment behind them. Note the contrast between the looser rendering and the more carefully described figures in the foreground. This contrast creates a sense of depth and brings our attention to the artist’s primary interest: the human figure. By considering the materials and processes of this sketch, we can better appreciate Sully’s skill and the social context in which he worked, as he was rapidly capturing his ideas on paper, somewhere between fine art and the everyday practice of sketching.