A Cloud No Bigger Than a Man's Future 1955

This drawing by Herbert Lawrence Block, made with graphite on paper, speaks volumes with its stark simplicity. The artist's hand is evident in every mark, a testament to the artmaking process itself. Look closely at the cloud, shaped like a pointing finger looming over a city. The texture is almost palpable, created with layers of graphite that give it depth and weight. This isn’t just any cloud; it's a harbinger of "Unknown Effects of Superbombs," a phrase etched into its form. The cloud dwarfs the city, a cluster of buildings rendered with precise, yet anxious lines. A lone figure gazes up, his posture suggesting a mix of curiosity and apprehension. Block's work reminds me a little of Goya's Disasters of War, but done with a modern, almost understated touch. It's a powerful statement about the uncertainties of progress, a reminder that the future is never set in stone, and that art can hold space for uncomfortable truths.