Vodoo Drummer 1933

Elmer Simms Campbell made this drawing of a Voodoo Drummer on paper using graphite, probably around the 30’s or 40’s. The mark-making here is fascinating, a kind of controlled frenzy of hatched lines. Look how Campbell uses these to define the form and create a sense of depth, almost like a sculptor carving into stone. The texture of the paper adds another layer, catching the graphite and creating a subtle shimmer. It’s incredible how much information he conveys with just a pencil. The way the figure emerges from the shadows, defined by the interplay of light and dark, reminds me a bit of Charles White. Both artists shared an interest in depicting black figures with dignity and strength. But where White's drawings often have a monumental quality, Campbell's has a more intimate, immediate feel. Art is an ongoing conversation, right?