Marionette (Detail) c. 1937

Elmer Weise made this drawing of a marionette head, but when he did it, I'm not sure. But look at the strokes. They're so careful, so considered, almost like he's mapping out the geography of a face. I am intrigued by the materiality here, especially the way the paint seems to mimic the texture of wood. You can almost feel the grain, the way the light catches on its surface. Those ruby lips look almost wet, don't they? But it's the eyes that really get me. Notice how they're not quite symmetrical, how one seems to gaze slightly off to the side. It's a small detail, but it gives the whole piece a sense of depth, of unease. It reminds me of the work of Red Grooms, with its playful, slightly unsettling energy. Like all good art, it's a conversation, a back-and-forth between artist and viewer, between past and present.