Boom en een portret van een man c. 1825 - 1829

Andreas Schelfhout's study of a tree and a portrait of a man, was likely made in the first half of the 19th century, using graphite pencil on paper. The softness of the graphite allows for tonal variations, and the direction of the strokes creates both texture and depth in the tree foliage. See how Schelfhout renders the contrast between the solid form of the trunk and the atmospheric quality of the leaves. Notice how the use of graphite allows the artist to create a sense of light and shadow, bringing the tree to life on the page. The man's portrait shares similar features of light and shadow, but here, the sketch is more sparse. Both sketches appear as studies, suggesting the importance of the preliminary drawing in the artist's practice. The quick sketches reflect the artist's skill in capturing the likeness of his subjects and understanding the relationship between nature, art, and labor.