Love couple at the beach 

This is Victor Müller's "Love couple at the beach," created with graphite on paper. The stark simplicity of graphite belies its transformative potential. Here, the artist coaxes depth from a seemingly unassuming material. Graphite, at its core, is elemental carbon, similar to charcoal, but its layered crystalline structure gives it a metallic sheen and smooth texture. Observe how Müller uses the graphite stick to create an intimate encounter between the two figures, blurring the distinction between line and mass. The very act of drawing, with its direct engagement of hand and surface, provides a sense of immediacy, evoking the subtle shifts in mood and atmosphere. Although graphite is often seen as a preliminary medium, its capacity for nuance elevates this drawing beyond a mere sketch, underscoring the profound expressiveness inherent in simple materials. It reminds us that every medium is a site of possibility, capable of transcending traditional hierarchies between art and craft.