Drie knotwilgen 1849 - 1895

This drawing of pollard willows was made by Willem Koekkoek using graphite on paper. The deliberate cultivation of pollard willows involves repeated cycles of pruning, which results in the distinctive knobbly appearance of their trunks. Koekkoek's choice of graphite as a medium is interesting here, as it is made from the mineral graphite, itself formed under pressure. The artist uses graphite pencil to build up tone and texture, in a way that echoes the build-up of the tree trunks themselves. The graphite catches the light, just as a rough tree trunk would. Consider the labor involved in both processes: the physical work of pruning trees, as well as the skill and time required to render them so convincingly on paper. By considering the materiality of the drawing, we gain a deeper appreciation of the connections between the artwork, the landscape it depicts, and the human activity that shapes them both.