Man 1961

This is Harold Altman’s drawing called, Man, made with graphite on paper. Look at the way the marks accumulate, building up to create shadows and forms. It reminds me that art making is a process of layering and adjusting, not about capturing something perfectly from the start. The physical texture of the paper is so important here. See how the graphite catches on the tooth of the paper, creating a kind of visual vibration? And Altman doesn’t blend or smudge the graphite much; each stroke remains visible. Take the figure on the left, the one that gives the piece its title. Notice how the direction of the strokes changes to define the shape of his body, his clothes. You can almost feel the artist’s hand moving across the page. I am reminded of Morandi's etchings. Both artists share an interest in everyday subjects, seen through a filter of light and atmosphere, a conversation across time about the beauty of the mundane. It’s a reminder that art doesn’t always have to shout; sometimes, it whispers.