Decayed Glory c. 1935 - 1943

George Vander Sluis made "Decayed Glory," a drawing, at an unknown date. The mark-making in this piece is just fantastic - so many tiny hatching lines to build up tone, really showing the weight of the materials. It feels like he's making a statement about the decay of industry, about what we choose to value as a society. And the texture! The paper itself seems to play a role, adding a certain grittiness. Look at how he renders the wood, all those tiny lines suggesting the grain. The use of graphite feels very deliberate - not trying to hide the process, but embracing it. Notice how the smoke is rendered with soft, smudged lines, in contrast to the sharp angles of the building. It all feels very tactile, very real. It reminds me a bit of some of the social realist painters of the time, like Edward Hopper, but with a more personal touch. Vander Sluis isn't afraid to get messy. Ultimately, this piece feels less about making a pretty picture, and more about opening up a dialogue.