Flußlandschaft bei Erfelden 

Karl Peter Burnitz created this landscape near Erfelden using graphite on paper. Burnitz’s choice of graphite as a medium speaks to a growing industrialization and accessibility of art materials during the 19th century. The image is dominated by the soft, almost hazy texture of graphite, smudged and layered to create depth and atmosphere. Note how the reflections in the water are rendered with delicate, horizontal strokes, contrasting with the more vigorous, scribbled lines that define the foliage. Graphite lends itself to capturing the subtle nuances of light and shadow, which Burnitz exploits to great effect. Consider the labor involved, not only in the artist's hand but also in the graphite manufacturing, tied to the wider social issues of industrialization and the changing landscape. This seemingly simple drawing is embedded in a complex web of material production and social context.