Kathedraal van Amiens 1930s

Léopold Robin made this drawing of the Kathedraal van Amiens using delicate strokes in black ink. I can imagine Robin standing before this magnificent cathedral, squinting as he tried to capture its grandeur. The ink lines are so precise, yet they also feel tentative, as if he's feeling his way around the edges of this imposing structure. I wonder if he was thinking about the stonemasons who built the cathedral centuries before, each adding their own touch to this collective effort. The density of the marks creates depth and shadow, and the surface seems almost to vibrate with energy. I am reminded of other architectural drawings by artists like Piranesi, who also used line to create a sense of awe and wonder. Artists are constantly building on the work of those who came before, each adding their own voice to the conversation. Robin's drawing is a reminder that art is always in dialogue with the past, reaching towards the future.