Untitled (Oct 4 1951) 1951

David Smith made this untitled gouache on paper on October 4, 1951. There’s a real feeling of searching in this drawing, a kind of groping around for form, a lovely messiness. Smith uses gouache in such a way that it’s almost like a sculptor thinking in line. Look how the blues and grays wrestle with the peachy pinks, creating a sense of depth that feels both intentional and accidental. The paint isn't overly thick, but you can feel the drag of the brush, each stroke a record of the artist’s hand. My eye keeps returning to that thick dark blue line looping at the bottom left, it’s almost like a signature, tying the whole composition together. He reminds me a bit of Gorky, that same willingness to let the subconscious lead, but with a tougher, more industrial edge. It’s a reminder that art is never finished, only abandoned, and that the process is often more revealing than the final product.