A Grotto 

Editor: Here we have "A Grotto" by Richard Wilson. It's difficult to date, but it’s rendered in ink, and it’s quite striking how Wilson captures the texture of the rocks. What do you make of it? Curator: The means of representing such a raw scene are interesting. Note the labor involved in producing this image. The repetitive strokes mimic the geological processes shaping the grotto itself. How does the artist’s hand simulate nature's forces? Editor: So you are saying that the drawing mirrors the actual making of the grotto? Curator: Precisely. Consider the social context: grottoes were fashionable for the elite. But Wilson focuses on the material reality. It's about the substance. Editor: That reframes how I see it completely. Thanks for pointing that out!