Farmyard with Ducks 1830 - 1889

Jules Dupré rendered this landscape with ducks using graphite on paper. Here, a simple drawing tool is elevated through careful handling. The artist coaxes a range of tones from the graphite, from the solid darks of the tree's trunk to the light, airy atmosphere of the sky. The very act of drawing has social significance. Unlike painting, which was then understood as a high art, drawing was often considered a preliminary, a step towards a more finished work. But here, the drawing stands alone, suggesting the value of the immediate, unmediated experience of the artist. Although graphite pencils seem commonplace, in the 19th century, the material was relatively new and associated with industrial production. Dupré's choice to use it is a testament to the changing landscape of art materials, influenced by industrialization and commerce. The next time you pick up a pencil, consider the potential for humble materials to express profound ideas about labor, landscape, and value.