Studie 1875

This is 'Studie', by George Clausen. It's made from paper and pencil. Looking at the marks here, we can see that Clausen has made this work as a study. We can see many marks, and erasures. In particular, the drawing to the bottom right of the image shows the artist working out the composition of the forms that he is intending to place on the page. The way the artist has made the composition of the piece is something that he is working out in real time. It's not a pristine piece, but the making of it can be read through the traces left behind, giving clues about the creative process of the artist. Looking closely at an artwork’s materials and the way it was made helps us appreciate the full context of its meaning.