“September,” a drawing by veteran sculptor Richard Serra, from the show of his drawings now at the Metropolitan Museum in New York. Serra’s toolbox is relatively small: His drawings are black on white, and are built around a fairly limited range of abstract textures, shapes and gestures. What’s fascinating, however, is how one drawing can seem important and weighty, repaying lots of close study. And another, not really all that different, can seem like elegant décor. Somehow, I feel that this is the mark of a better artist than when everything is equally good
Serra’s best drawings pull you into their specifics; the lesser ones generate overall effects.
