Block Island 1959

George Bunker made this drawing, "Block Island," in 1959 with ink on paper. The composition is defined by a bold contrast between light and shadow. Bunker captures the rugged terrain of Block Island through a dynamic interplay of lines and shapes. Look closely at how the hatching and cross-hatching create texture, defining areas of light and depth. This technique emphasizes the contours of the rocks and the movement of the sky. The lines are not just descriptive; they actively construct the scene, giving it both structure and dynamism. This approach to landscape drawing can be seen as an exploration of semiotics. Each stroke and shape acts as a sign, together they create a visual language that invites us to interpret the essence of the island. These aren't just lines on paper, but a constructed reality, a coded representation of a place. It's a landscape that, through its visual form, prompts us to question how we perceive and represent the world around us.