Woman 1969

This drawing of a woman was made by Fairfield Porter in 1969. It looks like it was done alla prima, in one sitting. Maybe he was trying to capture a likeness while thinking about something else altogether? I wonder what Porter was thinking about when he drew this woman. Was he thinking about Bonnard? Vuillard? His light touch makes me think so. Look at how light the marks are around the jacket, and how dark they are around the skirt, made with thousands of tiny scribbles. See how he used the barest minimum of information to give us her face, her glasses. It’s almost like he’s saying, I don’t need to give you every detail. Painters do this all the time, it’s a constant conversation, a constant exchange of ideas, across time. Fairfield Porter is talking to Bonnard, and I'm talking to him now! It’s about embracing ambiguity and uncertainty, allowing for multiple interpretations.