House among Trees, at Right Man and Dog on a Footbridge 1640 - 1682

Jacob van Ruisdael made this drawing, "House among Trees," using graphite on paper. Now, graphite is nothing more than a form of carbon, the same stuff as diamonds and charcoal. Think about that for a moment. Ruisdael took an elemental material and coaxed from it an entire world. Look closely, and you'll see how he varied the pressure of his hand to create a full tonal range. The softer, smudged areas give a sense of atmospheric perspective, making the scene recede into the distance. The sharp, dark lines in the foreground bring that footbridge right up close. But more than just technical skill is at play here. Ruisdael was working in a Dutch culture that was deeply engaged with the natural world. His drawing connects to a broader cultural project, a concerted effort to understand and represent the environment. It makes you wonder about our own relationship with the natural world today, and how artists help us to see it anew.