A Georgia Scene 1940

Robert Jackson made this drawing, A Georgia Scene, on a sheet of paper with graphite. I love the scratchy lines, those dark marks building up an image, the way they create both form and shadow. You can almost feel the artist’s hand moving across the page, layering tone, feeling his way to a composition. I imagine Jackson looking at this scene and thinking about how to make it his own. What kind of feeling does he want to evoke? Is it about hardship, resilience, or the simple beauty of rural life? See how the sweeping lines of the sky echo the woman’s sweeping gesture, joining the figure and her labour to the landscape. The tire hanging from the tree is such a strange, surreal touch. It's a reminder that even in the most isolated places, there is still evidence of modern life, a sense of human intervention and use. Painting is an ongoing conversation, and each artist adds their voice to the mix, speaking to those who came before and inspiring those who will come after. It’s like a big, messy, beautiful family argument that never ends.