Huizen en een aangemeerde boot bij de Kleiweg in Rotterdam 1871

This landscape near Rotterdam was created by Johannes Tavenraat using graphite on paper. The artist used thin lines of graphite, a readily available material that is basically carbon, to sketch the outlines of a house, trees, and a boat. The material is used to capture the overall composition, with graphite smudges and varying pressure used to create depth and texture. The artist would have employed a range of techniques, from hatching to stippling to create the illusion of light and shadow, using the paper itself as a source of light. Graphite is a common material, but it's a good example of how a drawing is never just about the image – it’s about the process. The artist’s hand and mind, moving across the paper to capture a fleeting impression. It is through the act of drawing that the artist could explore the subtle nuances of light and form. This underscores the idea that even the simplest of materials, when combined with skill and vision, can be a powerful means of expression, and that the value of art lies in the labor of its making.