Isabel Bishop Early Sketchbook c. 1928 - 1936

Editor: So, this is Isabel Bishop’s “Early Sketchbook,” created sometime between 1928 and 1936. It's a series of ink drawings on paper – quick sketches, really. I'm struck by how immediate and almost casual they feel. What do you make of Bishop's process here? Curator: I’m immediately drawn to the repetitive nature of these sketches. Look at the way Bishop returns to similar figures, almost obsessively rendering bodies in public space. These aren’t posed portraits but quick impressions of everyday life, likely captured in Union Square, her familiar haunt. Consider the availability and low cost of ink and paper during the Depression era. The materiality speaks to a specific social context, where Bishop documents the lives of ordinary people using readily accessible materials. Editor: So, the material limitations, in a way, shaped her artistic practice? The 'cheapness' of ink and paper democratizing her subjects, by way of accessible materials? Curator: Precisely! It’s not just about a conscious choice, but a material reality influencing her subject matter and style. She uses pen and ink not as a preliminary tool, but as a final medium. Look how the repeated line work creates textures to mass produce likeness. How does the rapid and repetitious drawing technique suggest anything to you? Editor: The fast strokes makes the picture look vibrant. It seems that Bishop quickly sketched everyday objects and people doing everyday activities in public. Because she used readily available ink and paper as a low-cost tool, it really accentuates Bishop's ability to turn sketches into beautiful drawings! Curator: Indeed! It pushes us to consider how access to resources, or lack thereof, plays into the production and reception of art. And her conscious selection of those accessible resources provides artistic accessibility for her common folk subjects! Editor: It really makes you think about how artists worked with what they had available! Curator: Exactly! Thanks for your thoughts on Isabel Bishop and her process with "Early Sketchbook".