Dal in een berglandschap c. 1871 - 1878

This is a landscape sketch made by Maria Vos using graphite on paper. The thin, unassuming character of the lines belies the effort required to capture the grandeur of a mountain valley. Notice the way the artist has created depth, with stark, emphatic lines in the foreground, gently fading into the distant, hazy mountains. This effect relies on the most basic principles of drawing: the application of pressure to create a lighter or darker tone. Here, Vos’s labor-intensive technique transforms a common material – graphite – into a sensitive, evocative image. Though we don’t know where and when this drawing was made, it's a reminder that even the simplest of sketches can be deeply expressive. By considering the artist's process and how a humble material can capture sublime natural beauty, we can appreciate the artwork beyond traditional hierarchies of art and craft.