Landschap met bomen bij een beek 1891 - 1892

Willem Cornelis Rip captured this waterside landscape using graphite on paper. A humble material, graphite is simply a form of carbon, mined from the earth and processed into a convenient form, the pencil. Rip has clearly enjoyed the directness this medium offers. There’s a real immediacy in his marks, a sense of rapid observation. He renders the textures of bark and foliage through the use of hatching. Notice how the directional strokes of the graphite create darker tones and denser shadows, adding depth and dimension to the scene. The drawing is more than just a representation of the landscape, it is also a record of Rip's engagement with the world around him. This kind of drawing from life was central to the practice of landscape painters, a way of gathering information and testing out compositions. The ease and affordability of graphite also made artmaking more accessible, expanding the category of artist. Looking closely at sketches like these helps us appreciate the fundamental role of materials and process in the history of art.