Vajda Lajos Macsakafej, 1938 440x465 Mm Szén, Papír 1938

Vajda Lajos made this drawing of a cat's head in 1938, using charcoal on paper. The mark-making here is immediate and unpretentious; you can see the hand of the artist moving confidently, making decisions quickly. Look at the way the charcoal sits on the surface. It's not blended or softened, but left raw and exposed, giving the drawing a kind of directness. The texture of the paper is visible through the charcoal. See how the lines around the mouth are hatched and varied, creating a sense of volume and dimension, while also remaining playful and light. The whole thing has a kind of openness, as if inviting us to complete the image in our minds. I'm reminded a little of Klee in the pared-down simplicity, or maybe even Miro with the surrealist, dreamlike quality. It's not about perfection, but about the energy of the line and the joy of making marks.