Men and Machines 1941

This graphite on paper artwork is called, ‘Men and Machines’ and was made by Henry Billings in 1941. It's a tightly-rendered image, quite different from my own gestural paintings. Look how carefully Billings has built up the tones with graphite, creating a whole world out of shades of gray. I wonder if he ever felt restricted by this medium or if it offered him a sense of freedom. I'm thinking about the contrast between the organic forms of the hands and the geometric regularity of the machines. Billings clearly felt the pulse of modern life, the way humanity was becoming intertwined with technology. Did he feel hopeful or anxious about this change? The cool precision of his rendering keeps his feelings hidden, but the title suggests he wanted to say something about this relationship. Artists are always grappling with their present, talking to each other, and to the future.