Strata #43 1997

Susan Schwalb made this drawing, Strata #43, probably using a metalpoint technique that results in these very fine, delicate lines. It’s all about process, layering, and repetition, where each mark builds upon the last. What strikes me is the evenness, the all-overness of the gray horizontal lines, stacked one above the other. Look at how the varying densities of the lines create subtle shifts in tone, almost like a hazy atmosphere, evoking a landscape. There is something so soothing and meditative about this piece; the repeated mark reminds me of Agnes Martin's drawings, but softer, more ethereal. I’m drawn to the slight imperfections, the tiny breaks and variations in the lines. They reveal the artist's hand, reminding us that this is a human endeavor, not a mechanical reproduction. I think these 'mistakes' are where the real beauty lies. This piece, like all art, is an invitation to slow down, to observe, and to find beauty in the unexpected.