Gezichten op de dorpen Zyfflich en Niel in Duitsland Possibly 1731 - 1737

Abraham de Haen the second made this drawing of Zyfflich en Niel in Germany using graphite on paper. De Haen employed graphite to create the lines that define the structures and landscapes, using different degrees of pressure to indicate depth and shadow. The choice of graphite is significant: it's a relatively accessible material, allowing for quick sketches and studies. This suggests that de Haen wasn't after a highly polished or finished product, but rather a record of his observations. The thin paper support, likely from a sketchbook, further underscores this sense of immediacy. The drawing captures the architecture of the villages with a focus on their relationship to the land. The marks are economic but descriptive. In some ways the drawing is about the buildings, but more deeply it is about how we document and record the world around us.