The artwork named “Island of Coal,” created by artist Robert Smithson, belongs to the Environmental (Land) Art movement and is categorized under the genre of sketch and study. This piece is an illustration utilizing the medium of drawing to convey its subject matter.
The artwork depicts a mound of coal, presumably constructed into the form of an island, surrounded by water. The title “Island of Coal” is elegantly inscribed above the structure, indicating its significance and subject. The coal is represented with dark, textured strokes that highlight the rough, jagged nature of the material, while the surrounding water is denoted by lighter, wavy lines to emulate the fluidity and movement of water. The contrast between the solid, dark coal mound and the lighter, dynamic water lines serves to emphasize the distinct separation between the two elements.
