View of the Sintra from the garden of the Comte de Povoa, National Palace in the background 1840

Clementine de Brelaz made this landscape view of Sintra with graphite on paper, a traditional combination for the era. Look closely and you’ll see a masterful rendering, all achieved through the controlled application of line and tone. The texture of the paper itself is part of the story here; its slight tooth grabs the graphite, creating subtle variations in the density of the marks. The controlled strokes speak to Brelaz’s skilled hand. It's worth considering the social context of this kind of drawing. During this time, the ability to render landscapes was a prized accomplishment, especially for women of means. The making of such an artwork underscores the amount of work involved, and implies leisure time, access to education, and social status. Ultimately, this drawing is a testament to the power of simple materials, and the cultural significance of making.