Rio dei Santi Apostoli 1929

John Taylor Arms made this intricate drawing of Rio dei Santi Apostoli, using what looks like pencil, and a whole lot of patience. Look closely at the mark making, the soft delicate lines that build into the image, it’s all about process here. The material aspect of this work lies in its precision; the delicate cross hatching and the thin lines giving form to the architecture, the texture of the buildings, even the reflections in the water. Arms's mark making is methodical, almost obsessive, and it creates a certain emotional feeling in me, I get a sense of calm and admiration. I’m drawn to the texture in the upper right, how the light seems to crumble the building in soft lines. Arms was known for his printmaking; he made very precise etchings and aquatints. You could say this drawing is a study for one of his prints, or maybe he was inspired by artists like Piranesi. Either way, this drawing shows us how the conversation of art keeps going, and how much room there is for different ways of seeing and making.