Straights of Messina, 1904 (from Sketchbook) 1904

Mary Newbold Sargent captured the Straights of Messina in 1904 with a subtle dance of graphite on paper, a testament to seeing as a form of thinking. The softness of the graphite suggests a gentle hand, building up the land mass with layers of delicate marks. It's like she's feeling her way across the page. I love the simplicity of the monochrome palette, how it forces us to focus on the tonal variations and the texture of the paper itself. There's a real immediacy to the piece, a sense of being there, right alongside Sargent, as she makes this record. Look at the way she suggests the sky, not with a solid block of gray, but with a feathery touch, leaving space for the light to filter through. It reminds me a little of Agnes Martin’s quiet landscapes – both artists finding a sense of grandeur in simplicity and the power of suggestion. Art doesn't always need to shout; sometimes, a whisper is enough.