Untitled 1962

This drawing was made by Richards Ruben using ink on paper. The material itself is humble, yet the artist coaxes a complex image from it. The paper is stained, worn, giving a sense of age and history. On this surface, Ruben has used ink to create a series of loosely defined figures and motifs. Look closely, and you'll notice how the ink bleeds slightly into the paper, blurring the lines and adding to the dreamlike quality of the work. The process involves a directness of mark making. The figures appear sketched quickly, capturing a sense of movement and energy. The texture of the paper and the fluidity of the ink are crucial. They offer their inherent qualities to the composition, each contributing to its overall mood. Ruben creates an ethereal piece with simple materials. It invites us to consider how meaning can be found in the most modest of means. It challenges traditional distinctions between fine art and craft, inviting the viewer to appreciate the beauty and skill found in the intersection of process and material.