The Son and the Donkey 1863

Elihu Vedder made this drawing, ‘The Son and the Donkey’ with graphite on paper. This choice of materials and processes has implications. Graphite is a readily available material, with its use reflecting a blend of traditional artistic practice and everyday utility. Looking at the artwork, the graphite lines create a range of tones and textures. The artist employed delicate hatching to give depth and form to the characters and the built environment. The very act of drawing by hand imbues the artwork with a sense of intimacy, connecting the artist's labor directly to the final image. Graphite’s accessibility is tied to wider social issues. It democratizes artistic expression by making art supplies affordable and available. In the end, the choice of such a modest medium emphasizes the value of skill, patience, and creativity in the artistic process. This challenges the conventional hierarchies in art, where value is often linked to rarity or expensive material.