They All Moved to the Feast 1885

Will Hicock Low made "They All Moved to the Feast," likely around the turn of the century, using charcoal and graphite on paper. The artist here explores the relationship between drawing and classical sculpture. Charcoal and graphite offer a direct, tactile connection to the artwork. The medium's inherent qualities—its ability to create both delicate lines and broad shadows—allow for a rich interplay of light and form, mimicking the play of light on marble. Low uses it to capture the draped garments, and the smooth skin of his figures. The choice of monochrome emphasizes form and structure over color, creating a timeless quality reminiscent of ancient friezes. The drawing's texture, with its subtle gradations and soft edges, invites close inspection, drawing us into the artist's process and the scene's imagined atmosphere. Understanding the materials and techniques employed by Low allows us to appreciate the level of skill involved, blurring the lines between drawing, and the craft of sculpture.