Study for "The Angelus" 1922

This is Robert Austin's preparatory pencil drawing for "The Angelus", a composition with a figure, likely made in September 1922. It’s intriguing to look at a drawing like this, a study, a try-out. I imagine Austin, squinting, making quick decisions, and trying to get the essence of the figure down on paper. The lines seem to search and find their way, a bit like how I approach painting. I just start moving stuff around. The subject's pose feels heavy with solemnity. You can see how the subtle shading defines the form and creates a sense of depth, all done with humble graphite. Think about the simplicity of the materials, pencil on paper, and the complexity of emotion they manage to convey. You see the little sketch of the arm on the side? I love that! Looking at this, I’m reminded that all artists are in conversation with each other across time, constantly riffing and reinterpreting. And that art isn't about having all the answers, it’s about embracing the questions.