Movement, Grain Elevators c. 1918

John Marin made this drawing of grain elevators with graphite on paper. Look at all these sharp, dynamic lines, zipping and zooming across the surface! I imagine Marin, standing before these massive structures, feeling their energy and trying to capture it with a flurry of marks. It feels like he’s not just drawing what he sees, but also what he feels – the rumble and the rush of the city. I can almost see him, squinting, leaning in, then stepping back, making quick decisions about where to put each line. There's something so immediate and alive about the drawing. It makes me think about the Futurists, those Italian artists who were obsessed with speed and technology. It’s like Marin is saying, “Hey, look at this! Isn't it amazing how everything is moving and changing all the time?” And that's the thing about art, isn't it? It's not just about capturing a moment, but about sharing a way of seeing.