Grot c. 1841 - 1865

Petrus Johannes Schotel made this drawing with pen, brush, and gray ink, likely on paper, sometime in the first half of the 19th century. The techniques at play here are of mark-making, each stroke imbuing the drawing with its texture, weight, and form. Look closely, and you’ll see how the artist has skillfully rendered light and shadow, using the interplay of ink and empty space to create a sense of depth and volume within the cave. The sketch is efficient but incredibly suggestive, in that it conjures the feeling of a cool, dark space that is both enclosed and porous. Considered alongside Schotel’s marine paintings, we begin to see his engagement with a much wider social context. Here is an artist known for his detailed ship paintings, turning his attention to the hollow concavity of a cave, a harbor for the imagination. Ultimately, this drawing is a reminder that understanding the material and the making process can deepen our appreciation for art, challenging the conventional boundaries of the art world.