Four Friends 1946

Robert Austin made this etching, "Four Friends", at some point during his career; it's all about line, really, the sort of line that comes from a very delicate touch. It makes you think about art-making as a meditative process. There's a delicacy to the whole thing; the surface is smooth, but up close you can see the tiny etched lines that make up the image. Look at the way Austin uses line to create the patterns on the figures clothes, the little flowers, and the way that these relate to the tiny floral motif in the foreground. It reminds me a little of some of Agnes Martin’s work, even though the imagery is totally different. There is a shared interest in the use of regular patterns that invites you to get lost in your own thoughts. Ultimately, it’s a gentle reminder that art doesn’t always have to shout to be heard.