Untitled 1961

Vilen Barsky made this untitled drawing, using what looks like a Sumi ink wash, with very linear and expressive brushstrokes. I love the quick, almost impatient energy of the lines. It reminds me that art-making is a process, not just an end result. The texture of the paper is visible beneath the ink, and you can almost feel Barsky’s hand moving across the surface. Look at the hair, it's wild and uncontained. Each figure has such a unique character. Notice the faces, they are so animated! The slightly darker ink around the eyes gives them a startling expression. It’s like they are caught between a scream and a song. The way Barsky uses the ink is reminiscent of Egon Schiele's raw, emotive lines. Both artists have that ability to capture the vulnerability of the human form with such simple means, suggesting that art is an ongoing conversation across time.