Wooden Plow c. 1938

This image, "Wooden Plow" by Jacinto Placencio Roman, is a drawing that really gets into the nitty-gritty of life, you know? It's all about the process, the labor, the land and how those lines scratch and build the image. Check out how the pencil marks almost mimic the texture of the plowed field. It's like the artist is right there in the dirt, feeling the weight of the work. There's this incredible, dense crosshatching in the foreground, which then gives way to these fainter, softer lines in the background that almost disappear into the landscape. The animals and workers seem to rise up from the field. There’s a real honesty in how the artist lays down the marks, letting the imperfections become part of the story. You can almost feel the rhythm of the plowing. It makes me think of Käthe Kollwitz, another artist who wasn't afraid to show the raw edges of life. Art is all about conversation, isn't it? Different voices, different perspectives, all adding to the mix.