Figurehead 1935 - 1942

This anonymous drawing, "Figurehead," is made with graphite and watercolor. Look how the artist builds up the form with lots of small marks, like a sculptor working with clay. The graphite gives a soft, grainy texture to the figure, contrasting with the smooth, flat wash of the blue background. The drawing isn't trying to trick us into thinking it's real, it's more about capturing the essence of the form. See how the figure is connected to the dark, solid plane. I think of Marsden Hartley's paintings when I see this piece, especially in its sense of monumentality. In both, there's a kind of reverence for form and the sea, but also a willingness to embrace ambiguity. It’s like they're saying, "Here's something solid, but it’s also a mystery." Ultimately, it’s the artist’s hand, the human touch, that makes it resonate.