Old Man 1922

Géza Bene made this drawing of an old man, we don't know when, with what looks like ink on paper. It’s amazing how Bene builds up the image through these quick, scratchy marks, a swarm of lines that both define and dissolve the figure. It's almost like he's carving the image out of the darkness. Look at the way he renders the hands, so detailed and expressive, gripping what appears to be a cane. Then see how the lines around the figure's head become more frantic and free, almost vibrating with energy. The drawing feels less about capturing a likeness and more about capturing a feeling, a mood. It reminds me of Käthe Kollwitz's prints, you know? That same intensity and rawness, that willingness to let the process be visible. It's like Bene is saying, "Here, look, this is how I see, this is how I feel." And that's what makes art so exciting, isn't it? It's not about answers, it's about questions.