Landschap met bomen en struiken c. 1765 - 1775

Jean-Honoré Fragonard made this landscape sketch with graphite on paper. At first glance, it may appear unassuming, a quick study dashed off in a moment. But the apparent ease is deceptive. Consider the graphite itself, mined and refined, then formed into a precise implement. Note the paper, carefully manufactured from processed fibers. These materials speak to the burgeoning industrialism of Fragonard's time. His sketch represents a landscape, yet it also encapsulates the transformation of nature into commodities. Fragonard's light touch belies the extraction and labor underpinning his art. It's a reminder that even the most seemingly effortless creations are embedded in a web of social and economic relations. Thinking about the artwork in this way challenges us to look beyond the surface and consider the deeper connections between art, industry, and society.