Untitled 1966

Seymour Lipton made this 'Untitled' drawing in 1966, probably using charcoal or graphite stick. The marks are urgent and searching, like he's trying to find the form within the lines. It's all about the process of discovery. Look closely at the textures he creates with the side of the stick, especially in the rounded form on the left. The lines aren't precious, but they build up a real sense of weight and volume. It reminds me of the way Giacometti would build up a sculpture with layer upon layer of plaster. There’s a push and pull there, a constant adjusting and refining. The whole thing has an exploratory feel, like Lipton is feeling his way through an idea. You could see echoes of Picasso in there too, maybe, but Lipton brings something uniquely his own. It’s this constant conversation, this back and forth between artists, that keeps art alive, right?