Boy with water glass 1889

Adolph Menzel made this drawing of a boy with a water glass sometime in the 19th century, using charcoal on paper. The qualities of charcoal are essential to the work's impact. It's a material that allows for both detailed rendering and expressive mark-making. Look closely, and you will see how Menzel uses the charcoal to capture the boy's features with precision, but also employs broader, more gestural strokes to suggest form and volume. This technique emphasizes the immediacy of the drawing process. Charcoal as a medium has been used for centuries, not just for preparatory sketches but also for finished works of art. The ease with which it can be manipulated, erased, and blended makes it an ideal material for capturing fleeting moments and impressions. This drawing embodies these qualities, offering us a glimpse into a specific time and place. By focusing on the materials and the making, we can appreciate how Menzel elevates a simple study into a compelling work of art.