Turf 20 - 1857

Karl Peter Burnitz made this drawing, Turf, with graphite on paper. The drawing shows an artist closely observing nature and capturing the details of the landscape. The marks made with graphite create a range of tones, from the softest greys to the darkest shadows, giving a textural quality to the plants and foliage depicted. The marks on the paper are not just representations, but carry an aesthetic quality and depth. Burnitz would have selected specific drawing tools, controlling the pressure and angles, to achieve the different line qualities. This is the foundation of a rich artistic tradition, and the quality of a pencil drawing very much depends on the artist's skill. Drawings like this are a reminder of the beauty and value that can be found in both the natural world, and in the intimate act of its close observation and artful depiction.