Sara LePisteur, Bahr Ouandja 1925

Alexandre Jacovleff’s "Sara LePisteur, Bahr Ouandja" is a drawing marked by stark contrasts and careful attention to the human form. The artist employs a monochromatic palette, likely charcoal, to sculpt the figure against a neutral backdrop, achieving a compelling sense of depth and presence. Jacovleff’s emphasis on light and shadow accentuates the subject’s musculature and the intricate scarification on his face, drawing our eye to these cultural markers. The composition, which presents a close-up, nearly frontal view, invites an immediate encounter with the subject, fostering a sense of intimacy and perhaps, otherness. This careful rendering transcends mere portraiture; it delves into questions of identity and representation. Ultimately, Jacovleff’s work prompts us to consider the gaze—whose is it, and what does it reveal about both subject and artist? The formal elements of line and shadow become tools for exploring the complex interplay between self and other, challenging us to reflect on the ethics of depiction.