Sketch for the painting Rye 1878 14, 4h23, 6 Ivan Ivanovich Shishkin (1832-1898)

The drawing presents a landscape study executed in charcoal on paper. Here we observe a field or meadow transitioning into a dense stand of trees. The foreground is dominated by tall grasses and foliage, rendered with quick, energetic strokes that suggest movement and texture. These plants obscure the ground plane, creating a sense of depth and visual complexity.
The artist has employed a loose, gestural style; details are minimal, and forms are suggested rather than precisely defined. This approach lends an immediacy to the work, conveying the impression of a fleeting observation captured rapidly on paper. The trees in the background are depicted as masses of foliage, their shapes simplified into undulating contours. There is a deliberate lack of precise perspective, which contributes to the overall feeling of spontaneity and informality.
A path or track cuts through the field, leading towards the treeline. Its presence implies human interaction with the landscape, though no figures are visible. The artist has included a handwritten inscription in the upper left corner; its legibility is limited, but it appears to be a brief note or annotation related to the scene.
The drawing’s monochromatic palette and rough execution suggest that it functions as a preparatory study – a sketch intended to explore composition, light, and atmosphere before embarking on a more finished work. The emphasis lies not on meticulous representation, but rather on capturing the essence of the natural environment through an expressive handling of charcoal. Subtly, there is a sense of enclosure created by the dense foliage, hinting at a secluded or hidden place within the larger landscape.