Hut in het bos 1834 - 1911

Jozef Israëls made this drawing of a hut in the woods with graphite on paper. Graphite is an interesting material. It is a form of carbon, which means that it is closely related to diamonds. But unlike diamonds, graphite is soft and crumbly. Because of these qualities, it can be easily applied to paper, stone, or other surfaces. Israëls used graphite’s capacity for tonal variation to great effect. Notice the range of dark and light, and how he carefully varied the pressure to create texture. The artist also utilized the medium’s capacity for speed. He sketched rapidly, capturing the scene in quick, energetic lines. In this way, the work is closely tied to the physical act of drawing itself. It collapses the distance between observation and making. This artwork can be best appreciated by considering the creative process through which it came into being, rather than prioritizing a hierarchy between fine art and craft.