Flowers in a Pitcher 

John Constable drew “Flowers in a Pitcher” with graphite on paper. It may seem like a simple sketch, but the magic is in the making. Notice how Constable uses the qualities of graphite – its ability to create a range of tones through pressure, its subtle sheen, and its capacity for blending and smudging – to bring the flowers to life. You can almost feel the softness of the petals, and the delicate texture of the leaves. Pencil drawing was a core skill in 19th century art education, a foundation for more elaborate paintings. Yet, in the era of industrialization, the humble pencil was also part of a much wider transformation of production. Graphite mining, the mechanization of pencil manufacture, and the growth of a consumer culture, made drawing accessible to a much wider population. So, when you look at this sketch, don't just see a bunch of flowers, but a connection to the everyday materials and social changes of Constable’s time.