Landscape with Castle 1921

This drawing, Landscape with Castle, was made by F. L. Griggs, but when exactly, we don’t know. What strikes me is the way the artist coaxes this scene out of the page, pressing and layering the graphite until it evokes a tangible place. Look closely, and you'll see how Griggs uses the texture of the paper itself to his advantage. In the foreground, the subtle grain interacts with the pencil marks, creating a sense of depth and atmosphere. Then there are the trees on the left, their trunks defined by a mass of swirling marks, a real build-up of graphite. It is the same with the castle in the middle ground, emerging from a thicket of foliage, all rendered with this feverish, almost obsessive mark-making. This is not a light, airy landscape, it is almost claustrophobic. The drawing reminds me of Samuel Palmer or even some of the visionary artists from the early 20th century. It invites us to pause, reflect, and to see drawing as more than just representation, but as a deeply personal and evocative process.