Datura Japonica 1936

Christian Rohlfs made this drawing, titled "Datura Japonica", with pastels on paper. The dry, crumbly nature of pastels lends itself well to the fuzzy texture we see here. Rohlfs applied the pastels in short, energetic strokes, building up layers of color to create depth and vibrancy. These aren't materials that require extensive equipment or studio space. They're very immediate, which perhaps explains why they are often associated with sketching. However, look closely, and you can see that Rohlfs has created a highly considered composition, full of subtle harmonies and contrasts, bringing a craft sensibility to what might otherwise be seen as a preliminary study. His mark-making is full of restless energy and a deep attention to the natural world, and it invites a kind of looking that goes beyond conventional categories. The choice of medium invites us to consider the relationship between the immediacy of sketching and the careful, considered approach of a highly skilled artist.