IJslands landschap met een meer en een boog van lava 1840

Johannes Tavenraat made this Icelandic landscape study in pencil. With a few strokes, Tavenraat has captured the drama of Iceland’s volcanic landscape, its jagged lava formations and ethereal light. The pencil itself, a humble material, allows for quick and precise mark-making. We can see how the artist used hatching and shading to create a sense of depth, and varied the pressure to suggest different textures - the smooth surface of the lake, the rough, porous quality of the lava rock. Pencil sketches like this were essential for landscape painters in the 19th century. They allowed artists to quickly record the appearance of a place, capturing the essential elements of a scene. But beyond their practical use, these sketches reveal an artist's sensitivity to place. In this study, we see Tavenraat's deep engagement with Iceland’s wild, untamed beauty. This reminds us that even the simplest of materials, when combined with skill and vision, can convey the profound experience of being in the world.