Portrait of a Woman 2012

This is a graphite "Portrait of a Woman" by Reza Rahimi Lasko, and what strikes me is the artist's hand evident in every mark, a sensitivity that makes the figure almost palpable. See how the tone builds, a layered accumulation of marks, especially in the darks of her jacket. There is no attempt to hide the process, each stroke is visible, like brushstrokes in a painting. Look at the lower left corner, the marks there become loose and gestural, almost like abstract expressionism. This area contrasts beautifully with the finely rendered details of her face. It's this contrast that interests me most. There's a dance between representation and abstraction, between control and chance. I'm reminded of the work of Lucian Freud, whose portraits also capture a raw, unflinching look at the human form. Ultimately, it is that sense of honesty that draws me to this drawing. The artist embraces the vulnerability of both the subject and the medium.