Darth Vader 2016

Greg Hildebrandt made this drawing of Darth Vader, and the process is right there on the surface for us to see! It’s not hidden. Look at how the cape is almost scribbled, a frenzy of marks, while other parts are much more precise. The reflections on the helmet are really nicely done, with subtle gradations of tone. But then the artist also uses these big broad strokes that seem to be about the joy of applying the charcoal, rather than trying to render something perfectly. I love that contrast, and it reminds me of some of Philip Guston’s later work, where he embraced a kind of cartoonish freedom alongside serious subject matter. This Darth Vader drawing feels similar, like it’s not afraid to be a little rough around the edges, and that’s what gives it so much character. It’s this back-and-forth between control and spontaneity that makes the drawing so compelling.