Sanctuary 1944

John Steuart Curry made this drawing, Sanctuary, using what looks like graphite on paper. There’s a real sensitivity to the mark-making here, with all these delicate lines creating depth and shadow. You can almost feel the rain coming down, blurring the background and making everything feel a little bit uncertain. It’s like the artist is feeling his way through the scene, letting the animals emerge from the storm with each careful stroke. Look at the way Curry uses those parallel lines to build up the sky, it’s pretty simple, but so effective. The texture of the paper peeks through here and there, adding another layer of complexity. You might think of other artists like Kathe Kollwitz, who could also find so much expression in a humble monochrome palette. Ultimately, this drawing reminds us that art isn't about perfect representation, but about the feeling that comes through when the artist puts pencil to paper.