Solon H. Borglum, born Ogden, UT - The Plunge #3 - n.d. - T-Shirt

A graphite pencil study of a nude swimmer turning through the water, one arm lifted high as the body twists diagonally across the sheet.

Visual Elements & Composition

The drawing sits on cream paper, with graphite grey as the only other tone, so the figure reads as pure line. The raised arm is the strongest mark: a long, continuous stroke running from the hand at the top edge down to the shoulder. Torso and legs are built from broken, quick strokes that keep the body looking unfinished and in motion. The head turns toward the centre, and a second arm reaches toward the lower right edge. Light hatched marks around the lower body suggest water, and the diagonal composition pulls the eye from upper left to lower right.

Meaning & Symbolism

The title The Plunge, numbered three, places the figure mid-dive or mid-stroke. The raised arm and turning torso hold the body between air and surface, which gives the study its sense of movement. Numbered series like this one let an artist test how a single body changes its line from one moment to the next. The drawing comes from Solon Hannibal Borglum (1868-1922), born in Ogden, Utah, who became known for animal and figurative bronzes, including horses and frontier subjects. He was the brother of the sculptor Gutzon Borglum, later known for Mount Rushmore.

Built for the Shirt

A figure that twists across a sheet suits a shirt that is worn, moved in and seen from every side. The raised arm and diagonal body carry across the chest as the wearer turns, so the motion of the swimmer keeps shifting with each movement. The cream and graphite palette reads cleanly on a plain tee, letting the pencil line stay the focus of the piece.