Meisje met een slede met takken op het ijs 1874

This quick sketch of a girl with a sled was made with graphite on paper by Willem Cornelis Rip. Here, the qualities of graphite are perfectly matched to the subject: a frigid winter scene. The material itself, soft and gray, gives the impression of a world drained of color and warmth. Look at the texture that Rip creates. You can see the individual strokes of the pencil, the artist moving quickly to capture a fleeting moment. Rip is less interested in portraying an individual than capturing a scene of labor; the young girl is preoccupied with her task. We can tell by the way the graphite catches the light on the paper that Rip paid careful attention to the details of the sled, the bundles of sticks that she is tasked with collecting. The artwork is a testament to the importance of understanding materials, making, and context. By considering the graphite, the artist's technique, and the social context of labor, we gain a deeper appreciation for the meaning and significance of this artwork.