Bosrand c. 1765 - 1775

Jean-Honoré Fragonard made this drawing, Bosrand, using graphite on paper. The immediate impression is one of immediacy. The artist’s hand moves rapidly across the page, conjuring the dense foliage of trees with layered, energetic strokes. The graphite, a relatively soft and readily available material, allows for a range of tonal variation. The pressure applied determines the darkness of the line, and the overall effect is one of atmospheric depth. The artist also uses the white of the paper to suggest open spaces in the forest. The artist’s approach highlights the directness of drawing as a medium, revealing the physical act of mark-making and the coordination of eye, hand and material. The quickness of execution suggests a spontaneous response to the natural world, a moment captured on paper. While the drawing itself seems effortless, it embodies the accumulated skill and practice required to translate a three-dimensional scene into a two-dimensional image. By focusing on the inherent qualities of the materials and the directness of the making process, we can fully appreciate this artwork as more than just a representation of a landscape.