He; ‘I propose dinner.’ She; ‘Materialist’ 1916

Ralph Barton made this witty drawing, “He; ‘I propose dinner.’ She; ‘Materialist’” and well, it's just brilliant. The cool blues and warm yellows are giving me a jazzy, 1920s vibe. It's like Barton was painting with a wink, capturing a moment with just a few lines. I imagine him, charcoal in hand, quickly sketching, editing as he goes, trying to catch the essence of this interaction. Look at the woman's face, that expression! What was she thinking when she made that assessment? I can imagine Barton, with his caricaturist’s eye, exaggerating features to reveal something deeper about the characters, making us think about class, love, and money. It reminds me a bit of some of the drawings of George Grosz, also looking at modern life with a critical eye. It’s funny how artists, even across time, are always responding to each other, poking fun, and maybe finding some truth along the way.