Village Church Surrounded by Trees 

James Ensor drew this image of a village church surrounded by trees in the late 19th or early 20th century, using graphite on paper. The medium is modest – just a simple pencil – but consider the effect that Ensor achieves, the way the graphite particles cling to the paper's surface. You can almost feel the texture of the paper through the density of the marks. It's a good reminder that every material, even one as common as graphite, has its own inherent qualities. Ensor's energetic strokes capture the essence of the village, but the sketch also raises questions about the labor involved in creating art, and how value is assigned to different forms of work. Is a quick sketch less valuable than a meticulously rendered painting? By appreciating the materials and processes, we can move beyond traditional hierarchies and understand the unique contribution of every artwork.