Sketch of a Woman Sitting by A Window 1927

Dorrit Black made this sketch of a woman sitting by a window with what looks like humble pencil strokes. It’s amazing how such simple marks can give you such a complex image; you can tell it was made by someone with a deep understanding of how forms interact. I'm drawn to the way Black uses hatching to build up tone and volume. Take a look at the shadows under the rocking chair. See how the lines are denser in some areas, creating a sense of depth and weight? It's almost sculptural, like she's carving the form out of the paper with her pencil. I also like the way she leaves other parts of the paper bare, allowing the white space to act as light. It reminds me of some of Agnes Martin’s drawings, especially in its quietness and restraint. There's a meditative quality to the way Black approaches the process, slowly building up the image layer by layer. It's a good reminder that art is as much about the journey as it is about the destination.