Vignette to the Princess Lindagull 

Albert Edelfelt created this vignette to the Princess Lindagull using graphite and perhaps a bit of charcoal on paper. The artist sketched this work with an admirable economy of line, relying on his skill to suggest, rather than state, the narrative. The success of a drawing like this depends on the quality of its material support. Here, the tooth of the paper grabs the graphite, allowing a full range of tonalities from light grey to velvety black. But the character of the paper is also crucial for the artist's method. Note the smudges and soft edges, and areas where the graphite seems to have been lightly rubbed into the surface. This direct engagement with the paper makes the scene seem not just depicted, but somehow excavated from the surface. In a finished painting, such gestures would likely be smoothed away, but here Edelfelt welcomes them. By allowing the evidence of process to remain visible, he gives this image a unique immediacy. It is a reminder that all works of art are in fact the result of physical labor, even if that fact is not always apparent.