Ruins of Fort Phantom - Abilene Tex. 1938

Hazel Fulton McGraw made this lithograph, Ruins of Fort Phantom - Abilene Tex., sometime in the 20th century. The marks are gentle and subtle, giving a feeling of soft light and quiet contemplation. It's like McGraw is whispering about the ruins. Look closely, and you'll notice the texture created by the lithographic crayon or tusche wash. The way the tones softly blend into one another. See how the artist uses tiny, repeated marks to build up the forms of the rocks, the tree and the ruins? The contrast between the dark sky and the lighter ground creates a moody atmosphere, like a memory fading into the past. It reminds me of Charles Burchfield’s watercolor landscapes, who was also interested in the poetics of place and memory. And that’s the thing about art, isn’t it? It’s not about capturing a perfect image, but about evoking a feeling, a mood, a sense of wonder.