Aanlegsteigertje 1860 - 1921

Adolf le Comte sketched this ‘Landing pier’ using graphite on paper. Graphite, though a humble material, allows for a wide range of effects, from the faintest whisper of line to areas of solid tone. Here, the artist uses it to rapidly capture a scene, using the paper almost like a mirror reflecting the pier's structure. Le Comte's strokes are so economical, that they reduce the pier to its barest essentials. Notice the textural contrast in the rendering of the water, in comparison to the solid-looking pier, and the darker shading that gives it a sense of depth. In this context, the very directness of graphite becomes meaningful. The drawing allows us to connect with Le Comte's perception, and to appreciate how the simplest of means can evoke a sense of place. It reminds us that the act of observation, not just the choice of subject, makes a work of art.