The Digger c. 1923

Robert Austin made this drawing, The Digger, with graphite on paper. It's all about the act of seeing, isn't it? How we look, how we record. You can tell that Austin wasn't interested in showing off with unnecessary detail, he's going for the vibe. The way he's built up the form of the digger is like he's feeling around for it. The marks are tentative, layered, like he's not quite sure but he’s going to keep trying anyway. See how the man's back is hunched and every line seems to emphasize the movement of digging? The composition is so simple, almost folksy, but look at the details around the shovel. Those wiry lines that come from the ground are just perfect and really give a sense of the earth being disturbed. Austin's drawing makes me think of Van Gogh, another artist who wasn't afraid to get his hands dirty in pursuit of truth and feeling. Art is just an ongoing conversation, a back and forth, a give and take, right?