[title not known] 1803 - 1805

Curator: The Tate collection holds this small graphite landscape, made by Joshua Cristall. It dates to sometime between 1765 and 1847. Editor: It's incredibly delicate. The subtle shading gives it a dreamlike quality, almost as if the mountains are dissolving into the mist. Curator: Cristall was fascinated with watercolor techniques, and I wonder if this sketch was a study for a larger painting? I'm curious about the paper, its texture must have played a role in how the graphite was applied. Editor: Perhaps, or maybe he found joy in the directness of the material itself. It's an interesting reminder that even preliminary sketches hold artistic merit, showing labor and intention. Curator: It does offer a glimpse into the artist's process, which is lovely. To me, the tree is the key; it connects the human scale to the vastness of the scene. Editor: I find that contrast compelling too, and think that the materiality of the graphite is itself so grounded, even as it depicts transcendence.