Winterlandschap met figuren bij een roeiboot op een bevroren vaart c. 1825 - 1829

This drawing was made by Andreas Schelfhout using graphite on paper. A humble medium, indeed, yet it possesses an immediacy that perfectly captures the crisp cold of a winter’s day. Consider the artist’s process. Schelfhout carefully built up the image with a dense accumulation of strokes. Look closely, and you’ll see the subtle variations in pressure, creating a range of tonal values. The material itself—graphite—allows for both delicate lines and broad shading, giving depth to the scene. We can imagine the artist working outdoors, perhaps even on the frozen canal itself, quickly sketching the scene before his fingers grew too numb. This work offers a glimpse into 19th-century Dutch life, depicting figures enjoying a day of leisure on the ice. The drawing’s unassuming nature invites us to appreciate the beauty of everyday life. It reminds us that art doesn't always require grand materials or elaborate techniques, but can be found in the skillful manipulation of something as simple as a pencil.