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

Lillian Acton made this pencil drawing of two men on a bridge – we don’t know when exactly. It's a drawing of a place, but also of a feeling. Looking at Acton’s marks, I imagine her, trying to feel her way into the scene. Layering the graphite to give weight and shadow to the bridge, the buildings. It feels like she’s searching – not just to represent the scene accurately, but to understand it. What does this place *feel* like? The repeated lines create the texture, the atmosphere. The bridge seems to rise up to meet us, the artist, and those two figures, caught in a moment of crossing. There’s a whole narrative suggested in their posture, their closeness. It’s like a still from a film, full of untold stories. Acton shares a world with someone like Lois Dodd, making work that captures everyday landscapes with a deep, quiet attention. The exchange goes on. Painting, drawing – it’s a conversation across time.