Landschap met een schuur 1834 - 1906

This landscape with a barn is by Maria Vos, rendered in graphite on paper. The quickness of the medium gives a sense of immediacy, as though Vos were sketching en plein air. The blurred lines and smudges of the graphite work to create depth and atmosphere, the barn’s architecture in stark contrast to its surroundings. See how the light is captured, in the contrast of the lines. This directness to the medium gives a glimpse into Vos's working process. It is a democratic medium, available to almost anyone with the will to make art. Here, we see that even a humble pencil in the hands of a skilled artist can achieve a kind of mastery. The work challenges the traditional hierarchy between drawing and painting, craft and fine art, elevating the status of the preliminary sketch to that of a finished work.