Circus Scene c. 1950

John Marin created this Circus Scene using watercolor and graphite on paper. The support, a page torn from a sketchbook, is unassuming. It is a common material, readily available, and portable. However, in Marin's hands, these humble materials become an expressive tool for capturing a fleeting moment. The washes of watercolor create luminous splashes of color, and the graphite lines capture the dynamic energy of the performers and audience in the circus, with a light and spontaneous touch. The nature of these materials emphasizes immediacy and the artist's hand. Marin isn't trying to create a highly finished product. Instead, he is using the materials to convey a sense of movement, and the excitement of a spectacle. Marin's approach to materials and process demonstrates how even everyday materials can be transformed into something extraordinary through artistic vision, and how the act of making is central to our understanding of the artwork.