Gezicht in een oude gang before 1909

W.F. Barber made this drawing, "Gezicht in een oude gang" or "View in an old corridor" with graphite on paper. It looks like Barber worked quickly, trying to capture an impression of light, space, and atmosphere. The lines are so simple and spare, almost like a memory fading at the edges. I’m drawn to the way the graphite is layered, creating a sense of depth. The chair is barely there, and the archway feels solid but also permeable. The physical presence of the graphite itself becomes part of the subject, adding a layer of texture and a feeling of quiet intimacy. Look closely at the upper curve of the archway; the artist really digs in with the graphite there, darkening the tone. That mark alone could be a whole drawing. The directness and simplicity reminds me of some of Guston’s later, more pared-down works, where he got to the essence of form with the barest of means. It makes you think about how much can be said with so little.