The Spanish Steps from Above 1966

Prentiss Taylor made this drawing, The Spanish Steps from Above, with graphite, a humble medium for capturing a grand view. Just look at the way he’s built up the tones, layering and hatching, to conjure the Roman skyline. I imagine Taylor perched high above, squinting in the Italian sunlight, translating that blazing light into a spectrum of grays. You can feel the push and pull, his effort to capture not just what he sees, but what he feels. The texture of the rooftops, the drama of the sky… There's a tension between the meticulous detail and the overall looseness, giving it an energy that keeps your eye moving, like you’re walking the steps yourself. It reminds me that drawing is a way of seeing, and, in turn, it teaches us how to look. And even if you’re not in Rome, a drawing like this can transport you.