Study for "Soho" (verso) 1919

This ink drawing called "Study for 'Soho'" by Oscar Bluemner is like a quick thought jotted down on paper. Imagine Bluemner, maybe in a hurry, rapidly sketching, trying to capture a feeling of the city. You can almost feel the scratch of the pen, the artist's hand moving fast to catch the essence of Soho. Look at the vertical lines, like buildings, and the curved ones above, maybe the sky or some kind of dome. It’s not about showing us exactly what's there, but about the rhythms and shapes of urban life. I wonder if he was thinking about other artists who captured cities, like the Futurists with their love of speed, or maybe even the old masters trying to get a sense of place. Artists are always in conversation, picking up on each other's ideas, pushing them further. And like any good conversation, it’s open-ended, full of possibilities, never quite settled.