Torch c. 1939

Ray Price's 'Torch' is an interesting drawing. The work makes you consider his particular method of working with pencil. It’s a kind of gentle, observational study. There’s something really charming about the object depicted, the way the form is so clearly described with very little tone. The artist hasn't blended or smudged the pencil at all, each mark is left clearly visible. The highlights are just the paper, untouched. There's a real beauty in that, like it’s come straight from the eye to the page, without too much interference. There is a clear connection to the work of artists like Giorgio Morandi, who explored the beauty of everyday objects through simple lines and careful arrangements. Price isn’t trying to give us the last word on torches, but he is inviting us to look closely, and to value the quiet, thoughtful act of looking.