Wrought Iron Cross, Campanario c. 1936

Cornelius Christoffels made this drawing of a Wrought Iron Cross with graphite and watercolor. Looking at it, I’m struck by how the artist is working things out, how each line and delicate wash of color is a decision, a little experiment in seeing. The graphite gives a subtle, almost imperceptible texture to the cross itself. The watercolor is washy, thin, allowing the white of the paper to breathe through. You can almost feel the artist’s hand moving, testing the weight of the cross, trying to capture its essence. Look at how the simple mark of the signature anchors the whole thing, adding to its delicate balance. This piece reminds me a little of Agnes Martin's drawings. There is something so profound about the simple expression of a line in both artists work, a line that suggests both fragility and strength. It's like they're both whispering, "Isn't it amazing how much a little mark can say?".