Craig Quarry with Surrounding Vignettes 1973

Malcolm Rice made this drawing of Craig Quarry, with surrounding vignettes, at some point in the 20th century, using ink on paper. You can tell Rice was really thinking about how to fit different perspectives, and scales, into a single composition. He’s using a very delicate, almost obsessive, mark-making strategy. Look closely at the variations in line weight, and density of hatching and cross-hatching. The central image, the quarry, is rendered with clear lines that suggest the starkness of industry. But then the surrounding vignettes are like dreamy, floating memories. I love how he’s framed the quarry with portraits of people, like they’re watching over the scene. And the birds! They are arranged so deliberately it feels ritualistic. This piece reminds me a little of the graphic work of Paul Klee, in the way it combines a playful spirit with a deep engagement with form and symbolism. It's a wonderful reminder that art doesn't need to shout, it can whisper too.