Siena. The square. 1912

Pyotr Konchalovsky made this small drawing of Siena, probably in charcoal, in 1912. It’s such a loose, quick little study, and it really shows how drawing can be this amazing way of thinking. The buildings sort of tumble down the page, with these wonky lines describing their facades. But it's the square in the foreground that really grabs me. He’s used these long, almost frantic lines to suggest perspective, and then these tiny little figures, just stick people really, walking through the space. It gives you such a powerful sense of place. I find myself thinking about how much can be said with so little. The way Konchalovsky applies the medium, it really captures the feel of being in a place, the energy of it. It reminds me a bit of some of Matisse's line drawings, that same sense of capturing something essential with just a few strokes. Art doesn't always need to be perfect or complete, sometimes it's the quick sketch that tells you the most.