Allied Fleet at Constantinople 1922

Muirhead Bone made this drawing, Allied Fleet at Constantinople, in 1917, using pencil and watercolor. The marks are so tentative, as if he’s feeling his way around the form. You can really see artmaking as a process here, a step-by-step creation. Looking at the material aspects, the texture is smooth and the color is understated, almost monochromatic. The pencil lines are delicate but precise, giving the impression of a vast cityscape and a busy harbor. The wash of watercolor adds a sense of atmosphere and depth. Take a look at the cluster of buildings on the left. The lines are so fine and detailed, yet they create a sense of density and complexity. This kind of detailed observation reminds me of Piranesi, who also used line to build up imagined spaces. There's a dialogue happening between artists across time. That's what art is, an ongoing conversation.