Prospect Harbor, Maine 1952

John Marin made this drawing of Prospect Harbor in Maine sometime during his life with pencil on paper. Look at how the lines are dancing around! I can imagine Marin standing there, squinting at the scene, trying to capture the essence of the harbor with these quick, fleeting marks. The buildings, the boats, the water – everything seems to be vibrating with energy. You can almost feel the wind and smell the salt in the air. I love how he uses line to create a sense of depth and movement. It’s like he's trying to capture not just what he sees, but also what he feels. It reminds me a bit of some cubist strategies, breaking down the scene into its basic forms and then reassembling them in a way that’s both representational and abstract. I imagine artists like John Marin are always looking, always searching for new ways to express themselves, pushing the boundaries of what painting can be and sparking ideas for the rest of us.