Scipio Africanus 1963

Rudy Pozzatti made this ink wash portrait, Scipio Africanus, in 1962. Look at how Pozzatti approaches mark making here. It's all about fluidity, those loose, wet strokes that suggest form without defining it too rigidly. It speaks to an understanding of art making as a process, not just a product. I'm drawn to the material aspects of this work: the texture, the way the ink bleeds into the paper. Pozzatti isn't trying to hide his process, instead these fluid gestures shape our experience of the artwork, making it feel immediate and alive. Notice how the right side of the portrait dissolves into a series of calligraphic marks, the ink pooling and spreading like a stain. It's almost as if the image is in a state of becoming, not quite solid, but always in motion. This piece reminds me of artists like William Kentridge, who embrace imperfection and chance in their work. Art's not about definitive meanings, it's more about embracing ambiguity and the ongoing conversation between artists across time.