Study of plants 

This is August Babberger’s “Study of Plants”, made with graphite and colored pencil on paper. The drawing possesses a visual immediacy in its direct application of color to paper, and Babberger shows his careful consideration for materiality in his confident, delicate strokes. The density of line and color creates bold contrasts, which draw the viewer’s eye, inviting them to explore the intricate details. The medium is not precious, but the time spent observing and documenting is evident. The work evokes a sense of process; it is a study, a preparation for something else. A study of plants, in particular, speaks to ideas of natural resources. The flowers might suggest a site of recreation, but the botanist’s eye in the image also hints at a drive to understand nature, and possibly to dominate it. Babberger’s work invites us to consider the relationship between art, labor, and the natural world.