Figuurstudie 1848 - 1927

August Allebé created this figure study with graphite on paper. The immediacy of the medium is clear; graphite is pure carbon, easily transferred to the page, allowing for a direct translation of the artist’s thoughts. Allebé would have used a relatively soft pencil to achieve the dark lines and smudges. The texture of the paper, too, plays a role. Its slight tooth grabs the graphite, creating a subtle graininess that adds depth to the drawing. The paper is clearly newsprint. You can even see printed text bleeding through from the other side of the sheet. Consider the context of 19th-century art education, where countless hours were spent copying classical forms. Here, the artist’s labor is evident in the rapid, searching lines, capturing a sense of movement and energy, but done on the cheap with everyday materials, and for purposes of study. It reminds us that even in the most traditional of art forms, the choice of materials and the process of making can reveal a great deal about artistic intention.