John McCormack concert 1918

Harrison Fisher made this drawing of a sailor at a John McCormack concert sometime around 1918. The quick, sketchy lines of the charcoal give the work a sense of immediacy, like Fisher wanted to capture this moment as quickly as possible. Look at the way the charcoal is applied—thick and dark around the sailor's back, but lighter and more delicate on his face. It's a real study in contrasts. The sailor is holding a photograph, maybe of his family, and Fisher uses the darkness around him to focus our attention on the light that is reflected in his face. There is a vulnerability to this piece that reminds me of some of Käthe Kollwitz's prints, particularly in the way she uses stark black and white to convey raw emotion. Like Kollwitz, Fisher isn't afraid to show us the pain and longing of his subject, reminding us that art can be a powerful tool for empathy and understanding.