Untitled (Factory with Railroad Siding) 1935

Edith E. Lipsky made this drawing of a factory with a railroad siding, using graphite on paper. Look at the directionality of the marks! They build form, mass and depth. The image is structured around a dialogue between the sharp edges of the architecture and the more diffuse, atmospheric rendering of the sky. The criss-crossing of the graphite in the sky contrasts with the long, horizontal strokes used to depict the railway tracks. The building on the left looks like a face! The drawing has a surreal quality, a bit like de Chirico. The composition seems to have more to do with the emotional experience of being in an urban landscape than with documentary realism. This piece reminds me of the work of Charles Burchfield, who was similarly interested in finding the sublime in everyday scenes. Both artists invite us to see the world with fresh eyes. It's like they are saying, hey, look at this! What do you think about it?