Gas Buoeys [sic] 1933

Philip Cheney made this print, titled Gas Buoys, using black ink, sometime in the 20th century. There’s a lot of careful hatching that makes up the shadows, with the texture almost vibrating off the paper. It reminds us that art making is a process of layering, of attending to the material. The ink has a lovely density, doesn’t it? Look at the way Cheney uses it to create depth, especially around the buoys and the ship. The surface feels almost velvety. Then, there’s the marks themselves, directional, precise. It gives the whole scene a feeling of industry, of labor, with the worker in the foreground and the looming shapes of machinery all around. The artist’s hand isn’t hidden, but showcased in every line. It makes me think of Charles Sheeler, and his industrial landscapes, that same attention to form and the beauty in utilitarian objects. It is a reminder that art isn't just about what we see, but how we see and how we feel.