Study for "Justice Defeated" 1936

Leon Kroll made this study for "Justice Defeated" with graphite on paper. You know, looking at this, I'm reminded that artmaking is really about a process of seeing. Kroll’s marks here are so deliberate, building up a kind of monumental presence. The texture of the graphite gives the figure a tactile quality, like you could reach out and feel the muscles. Look at how the light falls across the back, each vertebra defined by subtle gradations of tone. The way he renders the tension in the arms, one clenched, the other holding something sharp and metallic, it’s all about the body’s potential for action. It makes me think about other artists who have explored the figure like this, maybe someone like Rodin, who also captured the weight and drama of the human form. Ultimately, this study isn’t just about representation; it’s about how we perceive and understand the world through the act of drawing.