Sketch of the bridge 1911

August Macke sketched this bridge, likely with graphite, as a way to capture a fleeting moment of everyday life. Look at how the lines dance across the page, building up the scene through a process of layering and hatching. You can almost feel the artist’s hand moving, searching for the right angle, the right density of tone. It’s a wonderful reminder that artmaking is a journey of discovery. Notice how the bridge cuts diagonally across the composition, drawing our eye from the figures crossing it to the bustling scene beyond. The texture of the paper is almost as important as the marks of the pencil. The figures at the bottom right, barely more than smudges, are carrying something – laundry, maybe? – and are echoed by the horse and carriage to the left. This piece reminds me of the work of the French artist, Jean-François Millet. They both found beauty in the mundane, and dignity in the everyday.