Water- of Gevangenpoort te Woudrichem 1838 - 1887

Frederik Hendrik Weissenbruch made this sketch of the Gevangenpoort in Woudrichem using graphite on paper. The linear quality of graphite lends itself to capturing architectural details and spatial relationships with precision. Weissenbruch has used this to his advantage to create a composition marked by its clarity, despite being unfinished. The choice of graphite, a readily available and relatively inexpensive material, reflects the artist's intention to create a study, rather than a finished artwork. The sketch bears witness to the labor of observation, and underscores the importance of drawing as a fundamental skill, and a necessary stage in the making of more elaborate works. Its openness allows us to appreciate the artist's process, as he painstakingly maps out the scene before him. By valuing the process of making, and the materials from which art emerges, we gain a deeper appreciation for the artist's vision.