Frank Auerbach's "Sketch for Camden Theatre" exemplifies his distinctive approach to urban subjects through dense, gestural charcoal and pastel marks that build form through layered, expressive strokes rather than descriptive detail. The work captures the architectural essence of the London building through an accumulation of vigorous marks that suggest structure and mass while maintaining a sketchy, provisional quality. Auerbach's method of working and reworking the surface creates a sense of urgent investigation into the relationship between the viewer's perception and the physical presence of the building itself.