Riviergezicht met links twee schepen aan wal waar verschillende mensen omheen staan 1797 - 1870

Andreas Schelfhout made this river scene with graphite on paper in the 19th century. Schelfhout was known for his landscape paintings, and this drawing gives us a glimpse into his working process. Graphite, essentially pencil lead, is a humble material. Its directness allows the artist to capture a fleeting moment, the hustle and bustle around the ships, with a remarkable sense of immediacy. You can almost feel the dampness of the air and hear the sounds of the harbor. The very act of drawing, a fundamental skill, connects us to the long history of artistic observation and representation. The sketch emphasizes the value of careful looking, and the importance of considering the everyday labor of those who lived and worked by the water. By focusing on the act of making, we can appreciate the skill and intention that elevates a simple sketch into a work of art.