Weg tussen beboomde hellingen 1773 - 1843

Georges Michel made this drawing of a road between wooded slopes using graphite on paper. The soft, grainy texture of the graphite allows for subtle gradations of tone, creating a sense of depth and atmosphere. You can see the artist has used hatching and cross-hatching to build up the shadows and define the forms of the trees and the road. Drawing was a fundamental skill for artists of Michel’s era, serving as a means of observation, documentation, and preparation for larger works. In terms of labor, it is evident that the drawing was executed relatively quickly and efficiently, likely en plein air, capturing a fleeting moment in the landscape. The immediacy of the graphite medium lends itself to the impressionistic style, where capturing the essence of a scene takes precedence over meticulous detail. Michel's choice of materials, and the way he used them, reflects a shift towards a more direct, personal engagement with the natural world.