Zeilschip op open water 1834 - 1903

This is a graphite sketch of a sailing ship on open water, made by Johan Hendrik Weissenbruch. The fleeting nature of graphite on paper lends itself well to capturing the atmospheric conditions of the open sea, like an exercise in pure ephemerality. Notice the linear quality of the mark-making, achieved with a handheld drawing tool. The marks give us a sense of the artist's hand and arm moving across the paper, allowing for both precision and freedom of expression. It's important to remember that materials aren't neutral; they come with cultural and historical baggage, and here the artist is participating in a long tradition of art making with accessible tools. The modest nature of this sketch reminds us of the value in paying attention to simple materials and the skilled hand.