Self-Portrait Nude Torso 1991

This is Avigdor Arikha's pastel drawing, Self-Portrait Nude Torso. It's a bit like looking in a mirror, isn’t it? The artist, observing himself, a kind of confrontation. I see a person rendered in hatched marks, layer upon layer. It’s clear Arikha is thinking through color, thinking through touch. I can imagine him working quickly, making these ephemeral marks, because he worked only from direct observation. When I look at this drawing, I think about how hard it is to make something look simple. It's about choosing what to leave out and just focusing on the essential details. A real lesson for any artist and a reminder that painting and drawing are all about seeing and feeling.