Vodoo Drummer 1933

Elmer Simms Campbell made this drawing, Voodoo Drummer, in Petit-Au-Prince, Haiti. Look at how the hatch marks give the figure shape. The careful shading describes the curve of the drum and muscles of the arms. I imagine him sitting with his pad on his lap, quickly trying to capture a moment. What was Campbell thinking when he drew this? What did the music sound like? Were people dancing? You can almost feel the vibrations of the drum in your hands. I like to think about the long history of artists looking at other artists, looking at other drummers, passing along the knowledge. We’re all having one big conversation, using line, color, and form.