Woman Looking Upwards n.d.

This drawing, Woman Looking Upwards, was made with red chalk on paper by an anonymous artist. Chalk is an interesting material because it’s so immediate. It crumbles and transfers to paper with minimal effort, but it also allows for subtlety, as the artist can build up tone with numerous tiny strokes. Here, the hatching and cross-hatching define the figure's form. The soft, warm tone of the chalk enhances the beauty of the subject. The artist captures a sense of reverence or spiritual yearning in the upward gaze. The relatively simple materials belie the artist’s skill. They're not esoteric high-tech materials, but the artist uses them with expert precision. There is a world of difference between picking up chalk and paper, and creating a drawing as compelling as this one. It reminds us that the most profound effects can be achieved with relatively modest means, and challenges the distinction between a quick sketch and a more considered work of art.