Running Water

A powerful diagonal slash of water dominates this stark black and white drawing, cascading from the upper left into a pool below. The composition, rendered in brush and black ink with scraping, emphasizes the raw force of nature. Jagged rock formations frame the torrent, their sharp angles and textures created by the artist’s precise use of scraping over graphite, a technique that allows for crisp lines and tonal variation. The scene feels remote and untamed, a recurring theme for Rockwell Kent, who sought inspiration in the austere beauty of wilderness. Created in 1918, around the time he ventured to Alaska, this work embodies a sense of elemental power and the cosmic wonder of the natural world, rather than mere self-expression.