Medusa Beer Truck 1908

John Sloan made this drawing, Medusa Beer Truck, with what looks like graphite on paper. It’s funny how the wagon is overflowing with beer barrels. They sit precariously atop one another, almost like they’re breeding. I think of Philip Guston when I see this image; his paintings similarly show the everyday, but with a touch of mania. The marks throughout the drawing are incredibly direct. The lines are scratchy and quick. They remind me of automatic drawing, where the artist relinquishes conscious control, allowing the hand to move freely across the page. See the way Sloan renders the horse’s mane? The lines are so loose; you can sense the movement and energy of the animal. The whole scene seems to be vibrating. Sloan’s contemporary, Reginald Marsh, had a similar interest in documenting the chaos of the city. Ultimately, both artists allow the viewer to immerse themselves in the hustle and bustle of early twentieth-century urban life.