Jack # Annie Chapman 2001

Julie Roberts made this graphite drawing, Jack # Annie Chapman, at an unknown date. It’s got this haunted, ghostly quality about it, right? The figure is rendered with such delicacy and precision, yet there’s something unsettling, almost dreamlike, in the way the light falls and the shadows deepen. Look at the surface, the way Roberts coaxes so much depth and texture out of a humble pencil. The graphite is laid down in layers, built up almost like washes of watercolor. See the tiny, swirling patterns on the face, creating an almost hallucinatory effect? And the folds of the clothing, so carefully observed, each line contributing to the overall sense of weight and volume. The overall effect is one of quiet intensity, drawing us into a space of contemplation. It reminds me of Marlene Dumas in its sensitivity, and its exploration of the darker sides of human experience. It's a powerful reminder that art can be a form of empathy, a way of connecting with others.