The Deserted Pigpen; and West Hurley 1866

Andrew Fisher Bunner made this double drawing, "The Deserted Pigpen; and West Hurley", on paper using graphite. Graphite, as you may know, is pure carbon, the same material as diamonds, but in a much softer form. It's been used for drawing for centuries, prized for its ability to create a wide range of tones. Look closely, and you'll see how Bunner uses delicate strokes to render the textures of the stone pigpen and wooden cabin, and the surrounding landscape. It's a direct, almost vernacular technique. What he’s really documenting here is labor, and its impact on the environment. These are humble structures, built from the earth, now slowly returning to it. Bunner isn't just capturing a scene; he's showing us the temporary nature of human endeavor. The drawing is infused with a sense of melancholy, a meditation on the passage of time and the way that human effort is eventually subsumed by the natural world.