Figuur in een heidelandschap 1848 - 1888

Anton Mauve made this drawing with pencil on paper, a quick notation in simple materials. Mauve has captured a figure within a spare landscape. Notice how the soft graphite creates a range of greys which build the composition. The texture of the paper is essential here, lending an atmospheric quality to the scene, and the marks and tones that evoke the landscape. The drawing appears immediate, a fleeting impression rendered with minimal effort. Yet, the apparent simplicity belies the work involved in mastering such a technique, a skill honed through hours of practice. The quick economy of the marks suggests that the artist was intimately acquainted with the landscape, and confident in describing it. By considering the making of this drawing, we can appreciate not only its aesthetic qualities but also the traditions of landscape drawing, as well as labor invested in its creation.