Carved Keystone c. 1939

Richard Barnett’s drawing presents a carved keystone, immortalized with graphite on paper. I can almost feel the dust from the original carving. There are soft tonal gradations and linear precision, giving a sense of form emerging from stone. It makes me think of the anonymous hands that sculpted the gothic cathedrals and other amazing buildings from the olden days. I wonder what Barnett was thinking as he translated this three-dimensional object into two dimensions. There’s real care in capturing every little detail, the textures of the feathers, and the weight of the stone. The bird clutches at foliage, so the keystone feels symbolic, maybe about freedom, growth, or some other noble idea like that. It reminds me that every artwork is a response to something else, a conversation across time and space. Artists are always inspiring each other, picking up ideas, and running with them. Painting and drawing allows for multiple interpretations, where each viewer brings their unique perspective.