Conductor - Rear View (Stravinsky?) 1940

Donald Greason made this ink and wash drawing, “Conductor - Rear View (Stravinsky?)” in 1940. It’s all about capturing a moment, a gesture, and the energy of someone completely absorbed in their work. You can see Greason's process so clearly in the brushstrokes and lines that define the figure. The washes are thin and transparent, layering to create depth and shadow with the bare minimum of means. The lines are confident and a little shaky, as though Greason worked quickly to capture the conductor’s fleeting pose. Look closely at the way he suggests the fabric of the shirt, with just a few well-placed strokes. It’s like he’s saying, ‘I don’t need to spell everything out; you get the idea.’ It reminds me of David Hockney’s line drawings, there’s a similar economy of means and confidence in simplicity. Like any good drawing, this one leaves room for the viewer to fill in the blanks. It shows how much can be said with so little.