Figure in Foliage 1961

Harold Altman’s drawing of a figure in foliage, probably made with graphite or charcoal, emerges through a meditative process of mark-making. I can imagine Altman standing before the paper, his hand moving in short, repetitive strokes, building up the density of the foliage. There is something both calming and obsessive about this method. It reminds me of Agnes Martin’s grids, or the drawings of Eva Hesse; this all-over attention to detail is a way of attuning to the world. See how the marks vary in pressure and direction, creating a sense of depth and texture. It’s like Altman is trying to capture the essence of nature, not through perfect representation, but through the energy of his lines. The lone figure, almost swallowed by the foliage, adds a touch of mystery. I feel a kinship with him, this need to translate inner experience onto a surface. Artists, we're always in conversation, borrowing and building on each other’s visions, trying to make sense of the world through the language of art.