Figure in Foliage 1961

Harold Altman made this print, Figure in Foliage, with a clear love for the possibilities of mark making. The density of the marks builds up the form from shadow, giving the whole scene a real atmosphere. Look closely, and you’ll see that the foliage is built up from thousands of tiny hatched lines, each one a small decision that adds to the whole. Some areas are darker than others, creating a sense of depth and texture. I love the way the artist uses simple marks to build up such a complex image, it has an emotional effect, the figure really appears alone. It reminds me of some of the landscape drawings of Van Gogh, where he used a similar approach to capture the energy and movement of the natural world. But where Van Gogh is all restless energy, Altman is more subdued, reflective. Art is a conversation, one artist responding to another across time.