Graphite is a naturally occurring, crystallized form of carbon that frequently forms the center of a pencil and is used as a drawing medium. Graphite first came to be used as for mark making after a deposit of the mineral was found in the 1500s in England. The graphite was extremely soft and breakable, and eventually came to be placed inside wooden holders to protect it from the user. In the late eighteenth century, Nicolas-Jacque Conté discovered that powdered graphite could be mixed with clay, then formed into sticks and baked. This allowed the supply of the valuable material to be rationed, and also allowed for the adjustment of the hardness or softness of the writing implement. Softer mixes made darker, more saturated marks, while a harder combination could be used to create very precise linework.

Graphite is a versatile medium that can be used to create lines of many qualities, partially due to the fact that its hardness can be varied. While often used on paper, graphite can be applied to many supports, including canvas and wood. Conceptual artist Sol Lewitt indicated the use of graphite for many of his wall drawings. In his late-career scribble wall drawings, an area of wall is covered with random scribble marks of varying density; the thicker areas possess the distinctive metallic sheen of graphite. Other artists who have used graphite in their work include Matt Mullican, Matthew Barney, Frances Alÿs, Matthew Richie, and Jim Shaw.