The moment her shadowy form met his view he…made one grasshopper spring to the door–and was gone! 1911

Arthur Rackham made this drawing of a sprinting man and looming ghoul with pen and ink. The shadowy specter is so detailed, they’re more of a presence than a form! The scene is stark, all rapid marks and dark washes, making it easy to imagine Rackham hunched over the page, working quickly, barely pausing for breath. You can feel the artist’s hand move from the flurry of marks above the figure to the way the ghoul’s arms stretch forward like she’s about to grab him. There's something so raw and immediate about it. It's like you can see Rackham wrestling with the story. I wonder if he felt a bit like that poor guy trying to get away! In a way, all artists are in a similar position. We see the world, we want to put it on paper or canvas. We learn from other artists across time. We all try to capture a moment, a feeling. I love that Rackham is brave enough to show uncertainty. His sketch embodies the ambiguity and uncertainty that makes art so exciting.