Study for "Great America" c. 1994

Kerry James Marshall's "Study for 'Great America'" (c. 1994) is a pen-and-ink drawing on graph paper that serves as a preliminary study for the artist’s monumental 1994 painting, "Great America." The drawing depicts a group of figures in a boat, their forms simplified and outlined in a web of fine, overlapping lines. The composition is informal and spontaneous, suggesting the artist's improvisational approach to the subject. The graph paper background adds an intriguing dimension, hinting at the artist's process and the underlying structure of the final composition. Marshall's drawing offers a glimpse into his creative process and the evolution of his iconic painting, which celebrates African American life and identity.