Dan Flavin

Dan Flavin, a sculptor associated with the Minimalist movement and known for his fluorescent light installations, was also an avid draftsman. In addition to studies for installations, his drawings include numerous landscape sketches made outdoors from observation. During the 1980s, he focused on the subject of sailboats in drawings such as this one, in which the spare composition and calligraphic qualities reflected his interest in Asian art. The emphasis on the diagonal movement of the sail in the wind recalls Flavin's seminal 1963 work: the diagonal of May 25, 1963, a yellow fluorescent tube mounted diagonally on the wall.