Autolycus, Act IV, Scene ii, The Winter’s Tale 1982

Edwin Austin Abbey made this drawing of Autolycus, a character from Shakespeare's *The Winter’s Tale*, using ink on paper. Look at the lines; they scratch and crawl, building up to give a sense of form and texture. I imagine Abbey standing at his easel, squinting at the model, rapidly building up the image. It looks like he’s feeling his way into the form, using lots of short, quick strokes. Look at the face, particularly around the mouth and eyes. See how the repeated marks create a sense of depth and character? You get a feeling he is jolly and mischievous. There's a real energy in the way he's captured the folds of the fabric. It’s like he’s not just drawing clothes, but also the air and movement around them. For me, a drawing like this is less about perfect representation and more about capturing a feeling, an impression. It’s like he's trying to get a sense of the character's essence. Artists are in an ongoing conversation and exchange of ideas across time, inspiring one another’s creativity.