"When I Laid the Earth's Foundation" 1952

Benton Spruance made this lithograph, “When I Laid the Earth’s Foundation,” and what strikes me is the way he mixes colors. Look at the blue-gray wash behind the figure – how it’s got these subtle textures, almost like the stone itself is breathing. It feels like Spruance is using the medium not just to depict something, but to embody the feeling of creation itself. I love the figure's skin tone; it's not just one color, but a mix of browns and reds, giving him this solidity and presence. And the way the lines are drawn – they're not trying to hide the process. You can see the hand of the artist. The whole thing has this dreamy, biblical vibe that reminds me a bit of Rouault, but with an American twist. It's like Spruance is saying, “Here’s a story, but it’s also about the act of making, the struggle to bring something into being.”