Milutin Milanković 1945

Paja Jovanovic made this drawing of Milutin Milanković with graphite on paper. The way Jovanovic uses all these tiny marks to build up the form feels almost mathematical. It’s a slow, deliberate process, which makes sense for a portrait. Look at the face, you can see the direction of each stroke. Those marks create texture and volume. The way the light falls across the face is all thanks to the density and direction of these graphite lines. And notice how the background is just a mass of scribbled lines, a real contrast to the careful rendering of the face. The artist is more interested in the subject’s face than in anything else. For me, this drawing has something in common with the work of Lucian Freud, who was also obsessed with the human face. Ultimately, drawing and painting are just a conversation between artists. It's all about looking, responding, and adding your own voice to the mix.