Gezicht op Strood aan de Medway en op Rochester Cathedral 1858

Gerrit Postma made this pencil drawing of Strood on the Medway and Rochester Cathedral. The artist here is using the most basic of materials, a pencil and paper, and his expertise is very much on display in creating this picturesque landscape with a simple tool that is widely available. The drawing seems to be part of a sketchbook, and the artist’s choice to include two sketches on one page, one above the other, is intriguing; did Postma intend to develop them further? The pencil lines vary in tone and weight, which suggest the artist built up the image slowly, adding details and depth to the townscape. The texture of the paper is also visible, giving the drawing a slightly rough and immediate feel. This understated work reveals how much can be achieved with humble materials and skilled handwork, challenging any rigid separation of high art and craft. The artistic value resides not in the complexity or preciousness of the materials, but rather in the artist's ability to capture a specific moment in time.