Landscape Study (from Sketchbook) 1904

This landscape study was made with a pencil by Mary Newbold Sargent. A landscape drawn with such simple marks and a singular instrument is so beautiful, to me, because it feels like she’s trying to communicate the bare minimum and that is enough. In this piece the marks are thin and light, the paper is exposed to such an extent that the white feels less like background and more like an active participant. The line is not always continuous but wavers and fades creating a sense of movement and rhythm throughout the piece. Look closely at the mark making describing the horizon line, like waves, the line rises and falls along the page. This rhythm speaks to the idea of artmaking as an ongoing conversation and exchange of ideas across time. Ultimately, Landscape Study is a reminder that the essence of art lies not in complexity, but in the clarity and intention behind each mark. It celebrates art as a form which embraces ambiguity.