Treurende vrouw c. 1840 - 1860

Charles Rochussen captured these two studies of a grieving woman with graphite on paper. The seeming ease and simplicity with which the image was created belies the intensive labor that underpinned its production. Consider the mining of graphite, its processing into leads, the manufacturing of pencils – each stage a story of human effort and industrial processes. Then there’s the paper itself, once made by hand, but by Rochussen’s time, likely machine-made, reflecting the growth of industrialization and its impact on artistic practice. Rochussen's delicate lines are a direct result of the pencil's physical properties. The graphite glides across the paper, leaving traces of gray that convey a sense of weight and emotion. The artist’s skill is evident in the varying pressure he applies, creating depth and texture with a seemingly humble tool. By recognizing the inherent qualities of the materials and the labor involved, we can better understand the social and cultural significance embedded within this seemingly simple drawing, blurring the line between fine art and craft.