Long Island, New York c. 1850s

William Sidney Mount made this landscape of Long Island, New York, using graphite on paper. It's a common combination of materials, of course, but the artist's technique is what gives the image its peculiar power. The marks feel exploratory, almost provisional, and made with great speed. The lines are deeply suggestive. Notice how the artist layered them to create shadowy depths within the trees, and a sense of atmospheric perspective across the flatlands of Long Island. The paper itself seems to breathe within the drawing; its off-white color adding to the slightly melancholy air. These economical gestures speak to the amount of work involved, yet somehow condensed. Mount was a genre painter, interested in everyday life and common people. We can sense him here, capturing a fleeting impression of the landscape. In doing so, he elevates the medium of drawing, demonstrating how just a few humble materials can evoke the beauty and significance of the world around us.