Interior, Harlem River c. 1935 - 1943

Julius Tanzer created this drawing, Interior, Harlem River with what looks like graphite on paper. The density of mark-making is incredible, and yet the tonality remains quite light. It's so interesting how the marks are not concealed but rather are the thing. Look at the wall to the left of the picture. This section is a marvel of observational drawing, see how Tanzer uses a darker, denser patch of graphite to give the impression of a hole in the plaster. He’s clearly interested in the textures, and how they describe the passing of time. Tanzer has this in common with other artists like Jacob Lawrence, who also documents everyday life in Harlem. But there is something more ambiguous and unsettling in Tanzer’s practice. Unlike Lawrence's vibrant and illustrative painting style, Tanzer’s images are more psychologically complex, more open to our projections. They acknowledge that reality can be both internal and external.