Rabboni c. 1890 - 1920

Will Bradley made this drawing, Rabboni, and who knows when - but it's a world made of lines. Look at how every inch of the paper is covered in thin black marks, building up a dense, almost vibrating surface. You can sense Bradley really enjoyed the process of drawing, getting lost in the repetition of these tiny strokes. There’s a hypnotic quality to it, especially in the way the leaves and foliage seem to writhe and twist around the figures. Notice how the linear texture creates a pattern that flattens the space. The black lines describing the landscape, sky, and foliage create a contrast to the negative space of the figures who are described with smooth, pale skin. The figures seem to be carved out of the solid density of the background. This drawing feels like a conversation with artists like Aubrey Beardsley, who also explored the power of line and pattern to create otherworldly visions. What I love about line drawings like this is their suggestion that art is a realm of possibility and imagination.