Architectural Arch Study with Five Figures c. 1935

This drawing, made by Paul Manship, is an architectural study showing five figures. It's made on an irregular piece of paper, and the first thing that strikes me is the arch hovering over the figures, which I imagine was created with one of those giant compasses that architects use. The graphite marks are tentative, searching, with lots of ghosted lines showing adjustments, pentimenti. I wonder about the process and what Manship was thinking when he made this? Was he hoping to create a frieze? Or maybe it was a decorative panel of some kind? Whatever it was, it was going to be a BIG undertaking. Look at how each figure is captured in mid-motion, almost like they are dancing, but not quite. The figures seem to be reaching towards something, their gestures communicating a feeling of hopeful aspiration. The artist plays with texture by using line and surface in varying ways that convey emotion and narrative. Artists are always in dialogue with each other. I see echoes of classical sculpture and Renaissance painting here, yet Manship brings his own unique sensibility to the work. It’s a beautiful example of how art builds on art.