Pine Bust of Washington c. 1938

Lucille Chabot gave us this Pine Bust of Washington. It's a gentle drawing with soft graphite lines and gentle watercolour washes. The drawing captures the texture of the carved wood, those tiny grooves and splinters, and the sharp, crisp edges of the bust. I can imagine Lucille holding the stick of graphite lightly, and her eyes scanning the form. It feels like she's not just copying but trying to understand the form and feel the weight of Washington's legacy. What was she thinking about as she worked? Was she contemplating the weight of history, the idea of leadership, or something more personal? The light blue background feels like a cloudy sky, or a faded memory. And the quietness of the graphite lines adds to this feeling of distance and reflection. Artists build on each other, across time, and influence each other’s creativity. Each mark and gesture has the possibility of many readings.