Vase c. 1937

Lillian Causey made this drawing of a vase, date unknown, with graphite on paper. What I love about it is the way it teeters between representation and abstraction. The graphite is applied in such a way that the vase feels like it’s emerging, or dissolving, right before our eyes, as though the artist were interested in the idea of a vase, more than the vase itself. Look at the way the light shimmers across the many cut surfaces, dissolving form into light. There's a real delicacy here, a light touch reminiscent of Agnes Martin’s subtle pencil drawings. But, whereas Martin's work feels meditative and controlled, there's a real freedom in Causey’s hand. It's like she's improvising, letting the pencil wander and explore the form as it goes. Causey's vase stands as a testament to the beauty of process, and the magic that happens when an artist allows themselves to play.