Tropical Bay [verso] 1936

William Vaughn Cash made this drawing of a Tropical Bay, we don't know when, using graphite on paper. Isn't it interesting how a few simple lines can suggest a whole world? I'm drawn to the cluster of marks that make up the island. It's like a little punctuation mark in the vastness of the sea. The pressure on the graphite varies, giving some lines more weight than others. It’s a reminder that artmaking is a conversation; each mark responds to the one before. The overall texture of the paper peeks through the graphite, creating a visual hum. This piece reminds me of Agnes Martin’s subtle drawings. Both artists share an interest in the quiet power of simple forms. Like Martin, Cash shows us that art doesn't always need to shout to be heard. Sometimes, the most profound statements are whispered.