szkic do obrazu ‘Noc w Pompejach. Świetlik’ 1883

This sketch was made by Henryk Siemiradzki, using graphite on paper, as a preparatory study for his painting, ‘Night in Pompeii. Skylight’. What I find fascinating about drawings like this is how immediate they are. Graphite, essentially processed carbon, allows for quick, erasable marks, capturing initial ideas with incredible speed. This immediacy allows the artist to explore compositions and poses, working through different ideas before committing to the final artwork. The visible lines tell a story of process: we can see the artist's hand at work, adjusting a figure's posture, or refining a facial expression. The sketch feels intimate, like a direct line to the artist's thought process. It reminds us that even the most polished paintings begin with a foundation of exploration and experimentation, highlighting the labour and skill involved in bringing an artwork to life. It challenges the notion of art as purely intellectual, celebrating the physical act of making and the inherent value of the artist's craft.