Scallions 1919

Joseph Stella made this drawing of Scallions with pencil and crayon on paper. What I love about this piece is the gentleness of the lines. It’s like he coaxed the image into being, letting it emerge slowly. I can imagine him delicately layering the colors, building up the forms with subtle gradations. What was he thinking as he drew each line? Was he considering the architecture of the scallion or just captivated by the simple beauty of this plant form? The thin, almost translucent quality of the lines reminds me of Cy Twombly’s work. The way Stella embraces imperfection, the slight wobbles and variations in line weight—it feels human, intimate. You can sense the artist’s hand, his breath, his presence in the work. That kind of honesty always draws me in. It's like a secret shared between the artist and the viewer.