Carrying Ballast c. 1910 - 1912

Clifford Kennedy Berryman made this drawing, "Carrying Ballast," using ink on paper, and the hatching feels almost frantic, a way of building tone and texture that's both controlled and wild. You can feel the artist thinking through the image, line by line. The density of the marks is fascinating; look at how the lines bunch together to create shadows and volume, especially on the figure of Uncle Sam. There's a real sense of movement and energy in these marks, as if the drawing itself is a performance. It's interesting how the weight of the lines creates the weight of the objects depicted. Berryman reminds me a little bit of Honore Daumier, in that he understood how to use simple means to create biting social commentary. Both embrace imperfection and a certain rawness. Ultimately, art is about asking questions, not providing answers, and this piece certainly leaves you with plenty to ponder.