Portrait of a man, left profile, writing at desk 

Edwin Austin Abbey created this portrait using graphite on paper in the late 19th, early 20th century. The artist used drawing to capture a man engrossed in writing at his desk. Graphite, a relatively accessible material, allows for a wide range of tonal values and textures through varying pressure and layering. Notice how Abbey skillfully uses the graphite to create depth and form, from the solid outlines of the desk, to the wispy background. The marks are immediate, and the process is direct. There’s a sense of intimacy conveyed through the medium. We get a sense of how the author's hand and thoughts might move across the paper, mirroring the man’s own engagement with his writing. Looking closely at drawings like this one reminds us that the simplest materials, when wielded with intention, can yield profound insights. It challenges us to see value in the everyday, in the act of creation itself, not just the finished product.