Studieblad met schepen 1880s

Louis Apol created this ‘Studieblad met schepen’, or study sheet with ships, using graphite on paper. A humble material, graphite is simply powdered carbon mixed with clay; its capacity for mark-making is, nonetheless, profound. In this work, Apol has used it to quickly capture the forms of various boats, each reduced to its essential lines. The sketches have an immediacy, an indication of the speed with which he worked, observing these vessels in real time and space. Notice the lightness of touch, the fleeting quality of the lines. The paper itself also plays a role, its grainy texture influencing the appearance of the drawing. But what does it mean to study something? Apol was clearly interested in the working vessels that he saw, and this sheet may have been preparation for larger, more polished paintings. In other words, this sheet is a chance to see how a sketch can lead to a more resolved composition. And that even a simple material like graphite can capture the cultural importance of maritime labor.