Zittende man aan een waterkant c. 1825 - 1829

Andreas Schelfhout made this drawing, "Zittende man aan een waterkant," using graphite on paper. The apparent simplicity of the materials belies the skill involved. Consider the directness of graphite—a raw mineral, essentially—applied to a readily available surface like paper. It is an act of mark-making that’s both immediate and intimate. The varying pressures and densities of the graphite create depth and texture, transforming a flat surface into a scene filled with light and shadow. Schelfhout was working in an era of increasing industrialization, and yet he chose materials that were, and are, fundamentally simple. In doing so, he harkens back to older traditions while focusing on the immediacy of experience. The drawing reminds us that even in a rapidly changing world, the elemental act of creation—a hand, a tool, a surface—remains a powerful mode of expression.