Boom 1876 - 1877

Willem Cornelis Rip made this drawing, called Boom, with graphite on paper. It's a study of a tree branch, spare and direct. Graphite is an interesting material. Mined from the earth like ore, it's then processed and formed into the ubiquitous pencil 'lead'. Think of all the labor required to produce something that seems so simple. Here, Rip uses the pencil in a seemingly straightforward way. But look closely: you'll see a range of applications, from the heavy shading that gives the branch its volume, to the delicate lines describing the smaller twigs. The tooth of the paper also becomes important, catching the graphite and adding texture. This unassuming drawing, like all works of art, is a testament to both the hand of the artist and the materials that make its creation possible. It makes you wonder: how different would this work be if Rip had used charcoal, or ink? Materials matter. They can be easily overlooked, yet carry so much meaning.