Landscape c. 1875

Léon Richet created this landscape drawing using graphite on paper. Notice how the composition is structured around the subtle interplay of light and shadow, creating a tranquil yet dynamic scene. The artist masterfully employs line and texture to suggest depth and form, drawing our eye along the path toward the distant village. Richet’s handling of the medium is particularly striking. The varied strokes of graphite capture the roughness of the terrain and the delicate foliage of the trees. This attention to materiality aligns with a formalist approach, emphasizing how the artwork’s physical properties contribute to its overall aesthetic and conceptual impact. The play of light and shadow, the balance between detailed foreground and muted background, invite us to contemplate the relationship between nature and human presence. How does the composition—a road winding towards a distant village with a figure walking along it—invite us to contemplate our own place in the broader landscape? This work is not just a depiction but an exploration of form, space, and our perception within it.