Rocks Overgrown with Bushes 1605 - 1675

Francois van Knibbergen made this drawing, "Rocks Overgrown with Bushes," sometime in the 17th century with graphite on paper. What I find most striking here is the use of graphite, a material so common we often overlook it. It’s essentially mineral carbon, mined from the earth, then processed into a form we can hold and use to create images like this one. Notice how Knibbergen coaxes depth and texture from this humble material. The soft, almost smudged quality of the graphite gives the rocks a sense of volume and the bushes a delicate, airy feel. The drawing captures the essence of the natural world through the directness of mark-making. In its time, this work would have been considered a study, or preliminary sketch, rather than a finished artwork, a demonstration of skill but also an intimate engagement with the landscape. It reminds us that the value we place on a work of art isn't just about the final product, but also about the labor, the materials, and the artist's vision.