The Lumberjack 1908

Marsden Hartley made this drawing of a lumberjack sometime in his life, probably using graphite on paper. The marks are quick, like he’s trying to catch a fleeting moment. It's all about gesture and energy. The texture is created by the layering of these marks, see how he builds up the form of the lumberjack with these short, hatched lines? It’s almost like he’s sculpting with the graphite. Look at the way he renders the muscles in the lumberjack's back and arms. Each line isn't just a line, it's a decision, a response to the form he’s trying to capture. Hartley reminds me of Guston, they both knew how to make something raw and immediate. And, like Guston, Hartley embraced ambiguity, inviting us to bring our own experiences and interpretations to the work. It's like he’s saying, "Here’s a starting point, now let’s see where you take it."