Frate 

Agim Sulaj created this satirical drawing of a friar with pen and ink on paper. Sulaj’s use of traditional art materials contrasts with the drawing's pointed critique of religious hypocrisy. Look closely, and you'll see how he has rendered the figure with careful cross-hatching, building up tone and texture in the monk's garments. The rough-hewn cross is skillfully depicted, with just enough detail to make it believable. It is in the face that the work truly comes alive; the material is almost secondary to the expression of the character, caught in a moment of private indulgence. The very act of drawing, with its intimacy and painstaking labor, becomes a way of exposing the disconnect between outward piety and inner failing. This drawing reminds us that even the simplest of materials, when wielded with skill and intent, can carry powerful social commentary, blurring the lines between craft and fine art.