Study for Nighttime, Enigma and Nostalgia 1934

Arshile Gorky made this study for Nighttime, Enigma and Nostalgia with pencil on paper. It's clear that Gorky was interested in the possibilities of drawing. Look closely and you’ll notice the range of textures he coaxes from his pencils. Some areas are densely hatched, built up through layers of tiny parallel lines to create a dense, almost woven effect. Others are rendered with flat, almost shadow-like expanses of solid graphite, while still others consist of very fine networks of lines that recall the delicacy of lace. This interplay between mass and lightness, between the handmade mark and the possibility of mechanically-produced texture, is absolutely key. Gorky’s approach isn’t just about representing an image, it’s about working the material. It is as if he is trying to discover form, like a sculptor coaxing a figure from a block of stone. By giving us such an intimate view into his process, Gorky challenges us to consider drawing as a kind of craft – something more than just a preparatory exercise.