Zuni Indian c. 1920s

Gerald Ira D. Cassidy made this pencil drawing of a Zuni Indian on a sheet of paper. Look at the marks he makes on the page. See how he builds up dark areas to create a sense of weight and form. I can just imagine him, sketching and erasing, trying to capture the likeness and dignity of his sitter, thinking about form, light and shadow. It’s interesting how Cassidy focuses on the face and hands, making them more detailed than the background. Maybe he wanted to emphasize the man's character, or the weight of his history. He’s not afraid to leave some areas unfinished, allowing the viewer to fill in the gaps, and to really focus on the face and hands. The man’s weary, lived-in face is what you remember. Cassidy’s clearly been looking at other artists, taking on board their ideas and techniques. Art is a conversation like that, isn't it? We learn from each other, building on what's come before.