Minotaur 

James Abbott McNeill Whistler made this quick sketch of a minotaur in graphite on paper. You can see the immediacy in the lines and the way the artist has left the marks of the creative process visible. The graphic qualities of graphite lend themselves well to this preliminary sketch. Its softness allows for quick, expressive lines, capturing the essence of the mythological creature with minimal effort. Whistler's handling of the material, using varying pressure to create depth and shadow, gives the figure a sense of weight and volume despite the sketch's brevity. The medium itself speaks to a tradition of academic drawing, as it emphasizes line and form, a skill honed through rigorous practice. The accessibility of graphite also places this work in a social context. It's a material available to many, suggesting a democratization of artistic expression. This counters the more rarified world of oil painting, hinting at an artist engaged with broader issues of labor, skill, and the role of art in society. Ultimately, it's the combination of material, process, and social context that gives this seemingly simple sketch its lasting power.