Untitled (Two Men on Bridge) c. 20th century

Lillian Acton made this untitled drawing of two men on a bridge with graphite, probably in the mid twentieth century. The whole thing is rendered with an amazing and dedicated use of hatching, all these little lines built up to create tone, depth and texture. Look at the bridge, see how the lines follow its curve, bending and shifting to give it volume? And then see how the sky is a mass of swirling marks, energetic and loose. The artist has a clear idea of how to render the world, and yet the surfaces all have their own character. It makes me think of other artists who worked with a similar dedication to mark making, like Van Gogh, who wrung so much emotion from every stroke of paint. In both cases, the mark becomes a language in itself. It's not just about what is depicted, but how. That's how art speaks.