Head of a Man 1933

George Constant made this print, Head of a Man, using etching. The close values of blacks and grays create a tonal harmony, that's almost like a whisper. And it's not just about what he's showing us, but how he's showing it to us. Look at the way Constant coaxes the image out of the plate with all those tiny lines. It's a painstaking process, and you can see that care in the finished work. The way the man’s beard seems to dissolve into the shadows, or the almost pleading look in his eyes… these aren’t accidents. The pressure of the hand holding the tool, the amount of time spent on each area, it all adds up. Constant’s approach reminds me of someone like Milton Avery. Both artists find a way to make something really intimate out of simple means. This piece embraces ambiguity, it’s not about answers. It's about feeling.