Studieblad met liefdesparen, een staande man en proostende vrouw c. 1840 - 1860

This is a pencil drawing by Charles Rochussen, a Dutch artist born in 1814. It captures various sketches of couples in love and figures in celebratory poses. The material, graphite, is humble, and the technique is equally straightforward. But look closely at the variations in line weight and shading. Rochussen coaxes a sense of depth and emotion from this simple medium, particularly in the way he renders the voluminous dresses of the women. These garments, signifiers of wealth and status, contrast with the modest means of their depiction. The loose, informal style suggests that this sheet was a preparatory study, a way for the artist to work through ideas before committing to a more finished composition. In this, it reveals the labor of artistic creation, the iterative process of honing an image. Rochussen’s drawing reminds us that even seemingly effortless works of art are often the result of careful thought and dedicated practice.