County Fair c. 1935 - 1943

William Lloyd Wulf made this drawing, "County Fair," using graphite on paper. The softness of the graphite lends itself to capturing the scene's bustling atmosphere. Wulf creates depth and texture through careful hatching and shading, building up the forms of the fairground, the rides, the buildings, and the crowds of people. The choice of graphite, a relatively humble material, democratizes the scene, presenting it with an immediacy that might be lost in a more elaborate medium. The technique mirrors the subject. Like a county fair, graphite is accessible, unpretentious, and deeply connected to everyday life. It's a medium of work and study, and here, it celebrates the leisure and community spirit of the fair. By emphasizing the directness and simplicity of both the subject and medium, Wulf blurs the lines between high art and the common experiences of working-class America.