Strand met paarden en schuiten 1848 - 1888

Anton Mauve made this drawing of horses and boats on a beach, likely in the late 19th century, using graphite on paper. The strokes are quick and light. The material qualities of graphite – its ability to create fine lines and subtle gradations of tone – contribute to the drawing’s atmospheric effect. It captures a transient moment on the Dutch coast. Mauve's choice of such a simple, direct medium allows for an immediacy and an intimacy with the subject, inviting us to consider the realities of life by the sea. Horses and boats speak to the fishing industry, and the people who relied on it for survival. A scene of labor and transport is distilled to its bare essentials. In considering this drawing, we recognize the value of these 'lower' categories of art, such as sketching. They often provide a crucial window into the culture, labor, and environment that 'high art' obscures.