Untitled 1983

Seymour Lipton made this untitled drawing in 1963 using graphite on paper. Look at how the marks build up. Layer upon layer. It’s all about the process of finding form. A bit like jazz, where the structure emerges through improvisation. There's a real sense of weight and presence, isn't there? The graphite is laid down in thick, almost sculptural strokes, giving the piece a tangible, three-dimensional feel. And yet, it remains on paper. The contrast between the density of the graphite and the lightness of the paper is pretty striking. See how Lipton uses hatching to create depth and shadow. It’s almost architectural, like the plans for a building, or even a spaceship. Lipton's drawing reminds me a little of the work of David Smith. Both were invested in the possibilities of abstraction as a means of exploring new forms. Both artists encourage us to question what we think we know about the world around us. Art, after all, is about embracing ambiguity, not seeking easy answers.