Bildnis Ludwig van Beethoven c. 1871

Louis Eysen created this sketch of Ludwig van Beethoven, likely in the late nineteenth century, using graphite on paper. Look closely and you’ll see Eysen’s virtuosity with the pencil; the hatching creates a sense of depth and volume, while the smudging lends a soft, almost dreamlike quality. Yet, there’s also an immediacy here, as if the artist were trying to capture not just Beethoven’s likeness, but also his restless spirit. The sketch is a reminder that even the most monumental figures start as works in progress. It also speaks to the relationship between labor, skill, and artistic expression, and the amount of work involved in the production process. Eysen's portrait invites us to think about how the simplest of materials can, in the right hands, give rise to great art. It challenges the traditional boundaries between craft and fine art.