Subway Terminal 1938

This lithograph, *Subway Terminal*, comes from the hand of Hugh Mesibov. What you see is a dance of marks on the surface, hatched lines creating light and dark, giving the image its density and smoky atmosphere. I can only imagine Mesibov at work, leaning into the plate, thinking about those crowds, how to render them, how to make it all feel so claustrophobic and yet dynamic. It makes me wonder about the act of observing, and how artists transform reality into something that carries their own personal stamp. Look how each figure is just a quick scribble, yet together they make this collective experience of urban life. The marks feel so energetic and alive, they remind me of some of the Ashcan School painters. It's a reminder that all artists are magpies, picking up bits and pieces from the world around them and translating them into something new. Painting is a conversation, constantly evolving and echoing through time.