Man with a Crucifix 1924

Robert Austin made this drawing, "Man with a Crucifix," with pencil on paper. The thin, gray lines create a somber, almost ghostly image. You can see the grid underneath, reminding us of the step-by-step construction and underdrawing that goes into an image. Look at the man's hands. They’re clasped together so tightly, and seem like the focal point of the whole composition. There’s something vulnerable and tense in the gesture, amplified by the strong contouring, so that each finger feels like it has its own weight. The way Austin renders them gives the impression of holding on for dear life. This reminds me a little bit of Käthe Kollwitz, who also found beauty in the worn and weary. Art doesn’t need to be slick or perfect. Sometimes, it's the raw and tentative marks that touch us most.