Landscape with a Pond c. 1879

Jean-Jacques Henner made this drawing of a landscape with a pond in the late 19th century, using black crayon on paper. See how the grainy texture of the crayon lends the scene a subdued atmosphere? Henner captures a tranquil moment through the directness of the medium, and the minimal tools required. He coaxes out tonal variety from a limited palette. The marks are clearly visible, which reveals the artist's process, layering and blending the crayon to create depth and shadow. The very act of drawing—a fundamentally unpretentious process compared to painting—suggests an intimacy with the subject matter. This was a period when artists increasingly turned away from the grand historical narratives favored by the Academy. Instead, they focused on the quiet, personal observation. This artistic choice reflects a broader social shift. Artists began valuing their own subjective experiences over conventional, prescribed subjects. Henner elevates the medium by revealing its inherent beauty, thus urging us to reconsider traditional hierarchies of art-making.