Movement, Grain Elevators c. 1918

John Marin made this drawing of grain elevators with graphite on paper. The marks, they’re not just descriptive, they’re expressive, like a shorthand for feeling. It's as if Marin wasn't just drawing what he saw, but also how the scene *felt* to him, the energy of it, you know? Look at the lines, the way they jostle and intersect. See how they create a sense of depth without really defining a clear space? The light seems to be bouncing all over the place. The graphite isn’t heavy, there is a real lightness to the touch, like a breeze. The lines almost feel like they’re vibrating with movement. There is a really interesting little passage in the lower center where the lines come together in a flurry. This adds a focal point, but also emphasises the sense of motion within the piece. Marin reminds me of Arthur Dove. They were both part of the Stieglitz circle and shared a similar desire to convey something more than just the surface appearance of things. These guys were listening to jazz and thinking about abstraction. What could be more American than that? Anyway, happy looking!