Elevation of Staircase Wall 1800 - 1900

This is a pencil drawing on paper for a staircase wall of unknown date and authorship. The medium is the message here, right? It's a preliminary study, not the finished product. The very qualities we value in a finished building – permanence, weight, solidity – are absent. This ephemeral drawing shows us how even the most imposing architectural structures begin with a provisional gesture. It is made possible by the humble pencil. Graphite is easily erased, allowing a freedom of line. The drawing also allows for the precise calculation of measurements. The grid-like pattern created in the underdrawing allowed the anonymous architect to envision and plan the staircase, thinking through the labor-intensive process that would follow and ultimately materialize this ephemeral design. Considering the amount of work involved in the production process, we understand the importance of materials, making, and context in understanding the full meaning of the built structure.