Aantekening uit collectie August Allebé 1848 - 1927

This notated sketch comes to us from August Allebé. It's rendered with graphite on paper, materials we might take for granted, but which are themselves products of industrial extraction and processing. Consider the nature of graphite: a soft, crystalline form of carbon, mined from the earth, then refined and formed into a tool for mark-making. This humble pencil allowed Allebé to capture his fleeting observations, the act of writing transforming into a visual notation. Notice how the pressure and angle of the pencil create variations in tone and texture. The quick, fluid lines convey a sense of immediacy, as if Allebé were jotting down thoughts as quickly as they came to him. The paper, too, bears witness to the artist's hand. Its surface grain and slight imperfections add depth to the drawing. It's easy to overlook the significance of such common materials, but by paying attention to the making, we gain a deeper appreciation for the artist’s process.