Desire 1917

Ger Ladage made this dreamlike pastel drawing, Desire, at some point in his lifetime. The soft, smudgy marks are so gentle, it's almost like he's breathing color onto the paper. The colors here are doing all the work. Look how the blues and yellows seem to glow from within, like little sparks of light pushing through a hazy surface. It's all about texture and layering. The pastel is built up in these delicate, almost powdery strokes, creating a sense of depth and atmosphere. See that tangle of lines near the bottom? It reminds me of roots, or maybe veins, reaching out, searching for something. It's messy and unresolved, which is kind of how desire feels, right? This piece reminds me a little of Odilon Redon's dreamscapes, that same sense of floating in a world of symbols and emotions. It’s more about feeling than seeing, which is why it stays with you.