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Célestin Nanteuil made this sketch with graphite on paper sometime in the 19th century. The immediacy of the medium, with its straightforward application, allows Nanteuil to quickly capture the scene before him, which is a house. Graphite, essentially just mineral carbon, allows for a broad range of tonal values, from the lightest grays to near black, giving the image depth and volume, emphasizing the contrast between light and shadow. The marks on the page are direct and expressive, each stroke contributing to the overall composition. You can see where he has built up the shading with layers of hatching, particularly in the foliage and the roof, giving the image a sense of texture and depth. The very act of drawing, the physical labor of hand to paper, brings us closer to the artist's experience of seeing and recording his environment. The drawing tradition that Nanteuil participated in was one defined by academic rules, but also one of freedom in the handmade image. The artist's hand is as important as the subject matter depicted.