B & O Yards c. 1937

Walter Dubois Richards made this print, B & O Yards, and it's all about the process of mark-making. Look at the detail on that train! It reminds me of those moments in the studio when you're totally absorbed, just building up layers and lines. The texture here is incredible, isn't it? The way Richards uses the graphite to create the illusion of steam and the solid weight of the engine. See how the light catches the edges of the train? It's almost sculptural. Then, notice the subtle variations in tone, especially in the sky. It's like he's whispering with the pencil, building up atmosphere with the faintest of strokes. For me, this piece is in conversation with Whistler's etchings of industrial London. It’s about finding beauty in the everyday, turning something as functional as a train yard into a work of art. Art isn't about answers, it's about questions, and Richards invites us to keep looking, keep wondering.