Mine Tunnel—7th Level 1936

Harry Sternberg made this image, Mine Tunnel—7th Level, using lithographic crayon on paper. It’s all about the process here: thousands of tiny marks are built up to create a world of shadows and light. The texture is incredible, right? Look at the way the crayon creates depth and grit, you can almost feel the dampness of the mine. And the light, those stark white headlamps, they’re like beacons in a sea of darkness. It reminds me of how we build up a painting, layer by layer, until it starts to glow from within. Notice the way the lines around the figures faces are etched, as if they have been carved from the rock itself. It’s like Sternberg is saying these men are one with the mine. I’m reminded of Käthe Kollwitz, who also had a great way of capturing the harsh realities of life with such sensitivity. Art’s like a conversation, isn't it? Always building on what came before, always open to new interpretations.