Salò at Lake Garda 1888

Louis Eysen made this drawing of Salò at Lake Garda in 1883, using brown ink on paper. The choice of such humble materials can tell us much about the artist's intention. Pen and ink is a relatively quick and accessible medium, perfect for capturing a scene en plein air, as the Impressionists were doing at this time. You can see how Eysen has used the ink to create depth and texture, with fine lines building up to darker areas of shadow. The architecture of the town is carefully observed, but the overall effect is one of spontaneity and lightness. Rather than a grand oil painting intended for a formal exhibition, this drawing feels like a personal record of a moment in time. It suggests that Eysen was more interested in the process of seeing and recording, than in creating a finished artwork. In this way, the drawing challenges traditional hierarchies of art, elevating the status of a simple sketch to a work of art in its own right.