Weehawken, Grain Elevators c. 1915

John Marin made this pencil sketch of Weehawken grain elevators on paper, at an unknown date. Marin understood artmaking as a process: there's a real immediacy to the mark-making in this piece. The texture and surface are raw, almost like you’re looking at the bones of a building. The pencil lines are not precious; they overlap and create a sense of depth without being too careful about it. Look at the top right, the way the lines radiate out from the edge—it's like the building is emitting energy, or maybe just vibrating in the city air. It’s such a gestural approach. This reminds me of the work of Cy Twombly, who had a similar attitude to drawing—not as a means to an end, but as an end in itself. Marin's work celebrates ambiguity and openness. It invites us to bring our own experiences and interpretations to the table.