Goshen Fair c. 1939

Ann Nooney made this lithograph, Goshen Fair, sometime in the mid-twentieth century, and what strikes me is the almost obsessive mark-making. Look at the way Nooney patiently builds up tones with these tiny, precise strokes, creating a world that feels both real and slightly dreamlike. It’s like she’s trying to capture every little detail, every nuance of light and shadow, in this bustling scene. I’m drawn to the sky in particular, with its wispy clouds rendered in delicate lines. You can almost feel the breeze, the vastness of the open air. Then there’s the contrast with the dense, solid forms of the people and tents below, all rendered with the same meticulous attention. And, consider the guy on the horse! I love how the artist builds up his plaid shirt with these tiny almost obsessive marks that feel very personal. It reminds me a bit of the early work of Philip Guston, before he went all-in on those cartoonish figures. Both artists share that love of process, that willingness to get lost in the act of making. Art becomes not about perfect representation, but about the joy of discovery, the endless possibilities of line and form.