Mision La Purisima Concepcion - End of Cloister Wall 1935 - 1942

James Jones made this drawing of Mision La Purisima Concepcion, and the end of its cloister wall, at some point between 1912 and 1942. The whole thing is rendered in these delicate, grey pencil lines, like he’s trying to capture not just what's there but the feeling of the place. It's all about texture here. Look closely and you'll see the subtle variations in the shading. The way the light catches the rough surface of the brick and plaster. The crumbling edges. Each mark seems carefully placed, building up a sense of depth and age. And how about that opening in the wall? It's a void, yes, but it's also full of potential, like a doorway to another time or dimension. It reminds me a little of Agnes Martin's drawings, that same quietness and attention to detail. Art is just this ongoing conversation, you know? Always referencing and building on what came before. And always leaving room for new interpretations. There's no one "right" way to see it.