Genuine Queen Anne Cottage c. 1935 - 1943

Zama Vanessa Helder created this graphite drawing called, Genuine Queen Anne Cottage. The way she builds up the values with such tight strokes makes the house feel solid, like it’s really there in front of you. It’s not just a picture, it’s a place. I keep coming back to the sky, that grey field that fills the space behind the house. It is built from layer upon layer of tiny strokes that create a dense atmosphere. The marks are so subtle that they almost disappear into the paper. The sky is heavy but full of potential, you can feel the stillness in the air. It reminds me of some of Edward Hopper’s architectural paintings, where the buildings and the light become characters in a silent drama. The drawing isn’t trying to tell us one specific thing, it’s more like an invitation to wander around and find our own story within it.