Man Catching Train n.d.

Charles Samuel Keene made this drawing, “Man Catching Train,” using pen and brown ink over graphite on cream laid paper. The sense of immediacy owes much to the artist’s direct engagement with his materials. The quick, gestural lines, cross-hatching, and varied line weights speak to the artist’s confident hand and mastery over the pen. Notice how the density of the ink lines creates depth and shadow, defining the figures and the receding space of the train platform. The choice of brown ink lends the scene a sense of warmth and nostalgia, contrasting with the frantic energy of the man chasing the train. Keene’s background as a wood engraver for illustrated periodicals informed his graphic style, suited to mass production and consumption. The drawing’s subject – the hurried pace of modern life and the anxieties of industrialization – is underscored by the very techniques used to create and disseminate such images widely. Paying attention to the materials and process helps us understand how this work resonates with the social and economic context of its time, bridging the gap between fine art and popular culture.