Untitled 1967

Seymour Lipton made this untitled drawing in 1967, using graphite on paper. Graphite in stick form, or pencil, is a humble material, often used for preliminary sketches. And that is likely the case here. Lipton was primarily a sculptor, using bronze and other metals, and this drawing feels like a study for a three-dimensional piece. Note how the graphite is applied with varying pressure, creating a sense of depth and volume. The way the artist has rendered light and shadow gives the forms a weighty, almost industrial presence. While graphite might seem like a straightforward material, its production involves mining and processing, connecting it to wider social issues of labor and resource extraction. And the hand-drawn quality of this sketch, with its visible marks and erasures, reminds us of the artist's physical engagement with the material, a direct connection between mind and hand. Appreciating the making process helps us recognize the value in both the concept and the craft.