Study for "The Angelus" 1922

Here's the audio guide script: This is Robert Austin's pencil drawing "Study for 'The Angelus.'" It's all about lines—some are dark, some are light, and they give the whole thing a sort of shimmer, like the artist is thinking out loud. You can really see the push and pull of the pencil, back and forth, as he figures out the form. Austin lets the paper do a lot of the work here. The texture isn't just in the lines, but in the way the paper peeks through. Look at how the light seems to catch on the folds of the figure’s clothes. It’s like he’s using the paper itself to suggest depth and shadow. There’s a lightness of touch, a kind of gentle questioning in each stroke. This piece reminds me a little of some drawings by Degas, especially in its focus on capturing a fleeting moment and the way the body carries itself. Ultimately, Austin's drawing isn’t about nailing down one specific idea, it’s an invitation to keep looking and thinking.