This landscape near the Ardennes was made by Théodore Fourmois, using graphite on paper. Graphite is an interesting material. Although we mostly know it from pencils, it is in fact a crystalline form of carbon, like diamond. Here, Fourmois has used it to create a soft and subtle rendering of this natural scene. It is a relatively quick medium to use, and is easily erased. The very qualities that make graphite a humble, everyday material also lend themselves to an aesthetic of immediacy. Look closely, and you’ll see the loose, flowing lines that bring this scene to life. The marks on the page almost seem to vibrate. Fourmois has used the medium to full effect, creating a drawing that feels both effortless and precise. Considering the materials and techniques used in art can really change how we see it, bringing us closer to the artist's process and the world they were trying to capture.