Conductor (Bloch?) seen from Audience 1939

Donald Greason made this painting of a conductor, maybe Bloch, in 1939, using ink and brush on paper. It’s a scene observed from the audience, and it's all about capturing a fleeting moment through an inky haze. Greason's marks are so immediate, so sure, it’s like he’s channeling the energy of the orchestra right onto the page. Look at the way the ink pools and bleeds, especially around the conductor. The contrast between the darks and lights creates a sense of drama, almost like a spotlight is hitting the stage. There's a real economy of line in the way Greason captures the musicians and audience members. A few strokes here, a dab there, and suddenly a whole concert hall comes to life. It makes me think of Kathe Kollwitz, who also used ink to express the emotional depths of human experience. Like Kollwitz, Greason isn't just depicting a scene; he's inviting us to feel it. It's a reminder that art, like music, can resonate in ways that words often can't.