Loose Drawing—Soldier and Man (from Sketchbook) 1811 - 1893

John William Casilear rendered "Loose Drawing—Soldier and Man" with graphite on paper as part of a sketchbook. The composition is structured around the contrast between two figures sketched with varying degrees of detail. The soldier to the left is depicted with a graphic economy, while the man on the right is more fully realized with tonal shading that suggests depth and volume. The stark whiteness of the paper dominates, emphasizing the incompleteness of the sketches. This choice to leave negative space enhances the viewer’s focus on the lines themselves. The drawing challenges the traditional notion of a finished artwork. Casilear seems less interested in mimetic representation and more focused on the act of drawing as a process of exploration. The empty space becomes an active element, inviting contemplation on what is present versus what is absent. It reflects a structuralist interest in the underlying framework that gives shape to artistic expression. Ultimately, the work foregrounds the materiality of the medium—the paper and graphite—and the formal qualities of line and form, suggesting that meaning arises not just from what is depicted, but also from the structural relationships within the artwork itself.