Landschap met gebouwen 1862 - 1864

This landscape with buildings was sketched by Johannes Tavenraat using graphite on paper. It's a simple combination of materials, but look closely – the artist’s choice of graphite, a relatively soft and greasy medium, allows for both delicate lines and smudged, tonal areas. This is a quick sketch, which makes its making all the more evident. You can see Tavenraat building up the scene with layers of lines, especially in the buildings and reflections on the water. This hints at his process of observing and then translating what he saw onto paper. The softness of the graphite allows for this layering, adding depth and atmosphere to the scene. The handwritten notes surrounding the sketch feel like a stream of consciousness. All of this reminds us that even a quick sketch has materiality, process, and personal context embedded within it, raising it above a simple image.