Hotel Porter Figure 1939

Alvin Gully’s *Hotel Porter Figure* is made with watercolor and graphite on paper. Looking at this, I can imagine Gully feeling his way around the form of this figure, watching it emerge, change and shift under his hand. It’s like he’s asking, “What does it mean to be seen? To be recognized?” The figure’s suit shimmers with strokes of black and dark blue, but it's the small details, like the bright green vest and carefully carved face that really make him come alive. There’s a sense of care in how Gully has rendered each aspect of the figure. I wonder about the history of this character, whether Gully knew him personally. There's a tenderness here, a desire to really see and understand this individual. We are, all of us artists, in an ongoing conversation. Each brushstroke is like a question posed, inviting us to reflect on who we are and what we see.