Southbound c. 1939

Gerardo Belfiore made this drawing titled 'Southbound' with graphite on paper. I can imagine him there, feeling the low rumble of the trains, watching a lone figure absorbed in their newspaper. Look at how the artist uses strong tonal contrasts. Notice the dark depths of the tunnel, the white light from the train, and the gradations of grey in between. It’s like a dance of light and shadow. I bet Belfiore was thinking about the gritty, noir-ish feel of urban life. Maybe he was inspired by the Ashcan School painters who found beauty in everyday scenes. This feels like a still from a film. There is something poetic in its simplicity, a snapshot of a moment in time. Artists are always in conversation, aren't they? We respond to what we see and feel, transforming it into something new. This piece reminds us that even the most ordinary subjects can hold extraordinary depth and beauty.