Untitled 1972

Sol LeWitt made this 'Untitled' drawing with graphite in 1972. The density of marks creates a surprising visual texture, a sort of velvety grey. I find myself wondering about the labor involved, the sheer repetitive action of building up this field. It’s a meditation, right? Each tiny stroke, a decision, a breath. Look closely, and you'll see how each mark is individual, angled this way and that, creating an almost woven effect. It reminds me of Agnes Martin’s grids, but dirtier, less precious. It’s this tension between the rigid system and the handmade that gets me. The subtle shifts in tone, the imperfections—they’re what make it sing. LeWitt was interested in ideas, but here, the idea becomes something felt, something almost sensual. Like a whisper of graphite dust on your fingertips. You might look at the work of Dorothea Rockburne in relation to the embrace of a limited colour palette, but this is all about form. Ultimately, it's a reminder that art is as much about the doing as it is about the thinking.