The Long Rail 1950

Edwin Fulwider made 'The Long Rail' with ink on paper; you can see how the ink bleeds softly into the fibres of the page. It’s a monochromatic vision of labor and industry, capturing a moment in time with documentary-like precision. I can imagine Fulwider, a man born in the early twentieth century, standing on a street corner, sketchbook in hand, watching as workers transport materials. The air is thick with the smell of coal and sweat. The figures on the rail are studies in shadow and light, each one a testament to the physical demands of their work. I wonder, did he know these men? Did he talk to them? Look how he renders the buildings. There’s a stark realism to them, but also a sense of something lost. It reminds me of Edward Hopper’s paintings, which similarly capture the loneliness of modern life. Artists are always looking, learning, and in dialogue with one another.