Frenzied Effort 1925

Peggy Bacon made this print, Frenzied Effort, in 1925. Look at the energy in the marks, the cross-hatching and scumbling, as she tries to capture the hubbub of a life-drawing class. I love to imagine the scene and what it was like to be there. I can almost hear the scratch of pencils on paper, the hushed whispers, and the shifting of bodies trying to get a better view. The artists are huddled together, squinting, measuring, and trying to translate the three-dimensional form of the model onto a two-dimensional surface. And I can feel their anxiety, that feeling that what they’re doing is never quite “right.” It’s interesting to see how different artists approach the same subject, each bringing their unique perspective and style to the task, just like Bacon has done here. She made the lines so animated! Artists are always in conversation, riffing off each other’s ideas and techniques, and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. It's all about embracing the messiness and uncertainty, letting the artwork evolve organically, and trusting that something interesting will emerge.