Diverses petites esquisses pour des compositions à personnages 

This sheet of sketches was made by Narcisse-Virgilio Diaz, using graphite on paper. These are traditional art materials, of course, but used here in a distinctly provisional way. Diaz is exploring a range of compositions. You can see how the graphite allows him to quickly capture fleeting ideas, to gesture at form and light. Notice how the varying pressure of the pencil creates depth and texture, suggesting both the figures themselves and the environments they inhabit. The artist is using traditional tools to work out something new; we see the labor of conception. It’s important to remember that even so-called ‘spontaneous’ works like this one are the product of skill and practice. It is through drawing, the thoughtful application of graphite to paper, that Diaz develops his aesthetic vision. So, the next time you see a drawing, consider it not just as a preliminary step, but as a testament to the power of process.