Woodcutter 1933 - 1944

Arnold Peter Weisz-Kubínčan made this drawing of a Woodcutter with what looks like pastel. You can see how the strokes have been layered softly, almost like a blending of thoughts as they arise. The whole thing is worked in these earthy tones – browns, greens, reds – and the ground is this warm paper peeking through. I’m picturing Weisz-Kubínčan outside, maybe even in the forest, quickly trying to capture the man's likeness. I imagine he's thinking about how the woodcutter is part of that landscape, both tough and worn by life. Look at the way the vertical strokes around his head mimic the trees behind him, it’s a bit like he is becoming one with the forest. The woodcutter's face is quite expressive, even though it's subtle. There's a sense of dignity, and of someone who's spent a lifetime working with his hands. The drawing reminds us that artists are always in conversation, picking up where others left off, reinterpreting what they see and feel. And painting, or drawing, is really just one way to keep that conversation going.