Cattle Brand c. 1936

Here’s a drawing of a cattle brand, by J. Henry Marley. Look at the way this thing has been drawn. It's more than just a symbol; it's a whole process. The black ink, thick and unapologetic, sprawls across the page, a testament to the physicality of art. See how the lines aren't perfect? How there's a wobble here and there? That's where the magic happens. It’s in the imperfections, the human touch. The brand itself, this kind of wonky hieroglyph, feels like a dance between intention and accident. It reminds me of the work of artists like Cy Twombly, who knew how to turn a scribble into something profound. And like Twombly, Marley shows us that art is less about perfection and more about the messy, beautiful journey of getting there.