The Serio-comic Governess c. 1902

William James Glackens sketched "The Serio-comic Governess" in what looks like pencil, capturing a moment with quick, assured lines. You can tell Glackens knew exactly what he wanted to say, no messing about. It's all about the line here, isn't it? See how he uses these simple strokes to create volume and form? The smoke curling from the pipe, for example, is just a few lines, but it tells you everything you need to know. And the kid lugging the golf clubs – that’s pure character, sketched in with such economy. There’s a freedom in the way Glackens approaches the page, like he's thinking on paper. The lack of shading forces us to fill in the blanks, to really engage with the image. This piece reminds me a bit of some of Toulouse-Lautrec's drawings, that same directness and wit. For me, art is always about that conversation, these echoes across time and styles.