Moscow 1967

Ivan Albright made this drawing, Moscow, in 1967 using ink on paper. It looks like he’s searching for the image, finding it through these bold, dark marks. It’s a process of discovery right there on the page. The starkness of the black ink creates a powerful contrast against the white paper, giving everything a kind of graphic punch. There’s a real physicality to the ink; you can almost feel the drag of the brush, especially in those thick strokes defining the architecture. The density of the marks in the buildings is fascinating; the details are rendered with a certain energy, yet it remains elusive, like a memory. See that swooping line suggesting the clouds? It's almost playful! There’s something of the expressionistic energy of someone like Emil Nolde here, but with Albright’s own distinct voice. It's like he’s inviting us to co-create the image, embracing the beauty of uncertainty.