Sketch for the play "Othello" 1933

Petre Otskheli made this "Sketch for the play 'Othello'" in the early part of the 20th century, and it feels like an energetic blueprint, full of layered thoughts and actions. The colors are muted, almost like a faded memory, with these bursts of pinks and yellows that feel so deliberate. I’m really drawn to the grid of colors, from ochre to black, next to the figure, almost like a colour chart or a swatch of fabric, or even a storyboard. The lines are all exposed, nothing concealed here. It’s like Otskheli is thinking out loud, letting us see all the scaffolding. It feels very similar to some of Oskar Schlemmer's more illustrative work, especially the studies of the human figure and costume design for the Bauhaus stage. Both artists embrace the idea of the body as a site of experimentation. Ultimately, this piece reminds us that art is about exploration and that definitive answers are overrated.