Wayfarer 1873

Vasily Perov created this drawing, Wayfarer, with graphite, a humble material, capable of great expressiveness. The texture achieved with the strokes of graphite creates a sense of movement, almost like a photograph that captures a fleeting moment. Notice how Perov uses line density to indicate light and shadow, giving form to the figure. The drawing has a raw quality to it, a sense of immediacy, in part because graphite is such a direct medium. Perov captures the wayfarer's weariness and the harshness of the journey. The lack of color focuses the attention on form, texture, and the narrative. It reminds us that profound statements can be made with the simplest of materials and techniques, emphasizing the value of accessibility and challenging elitist views of what constitutes art.