Knielend meisje bij een kerkhof c. 1840 - 1860

Charles Rochussen made this drawing of a kneeling girl by a graveyard with graphite on paper. The artist used the inherent qualities of graphite – its softness and darkness – to imbue the scene with somberness and sensitivity. Rochussen’s technique involved layering delicate lines, controlling the pressure to create subtle variations in tone, and to capture the folds of fabric and the contours of the figures. With the tools of mass production now easily available, Rochussen shows that you don’t need complicated or expensive materials to create a moving work of art. In earlier eras, such a drawing would have been a means to an end – a study for a print, perhaps. Here, though, the drawing stands alone, a testament to Rochussen’s ability to convey emotion directly through his handling of material. It invites us to reflect on the value of individual expression.