Execution 1960

Connor Everts made this drawing called 'Execution' using ink, and what strikes me is the stark contrast between the solid black background and the frantic white lines building the figures. You can almost feel Everts working, the obsessive mark-making, the pen scratching away at the surface to reveal these haunting figures. There is a real physicality to the lines. Look at the dark patches around the legs - they are created with layers of tiny dashes and strokes. This is not just a picture; it's an object. The texture is almost palpable, giving a sense of weight and depth. It feels like Everts shares something with artists like Kathe Kollwitz, who fearlessly used line to express raw human emotion. Both understand that art doesn't have to be pretty; it has to be honest. It’s a reminder that art, at its best, leaves you with more questions than answers.