Study of a Prostitute (Etude de fille publique) c. 1927 - 1929

Andre Dunoyer de Segonzac made this drawing, Study of a Prostitute, with ink and paper, and the marks build a world. It’s funny how just some simple cross hatching can make a face, but it's more than just a face, right? The marks aren’t precious, they're kind of frantic – that makes the image so much more alive. This isn’t photorealism, but it’s real, you know? Look at the way he's built her hair with these rhythmic, curving lines, almost like he's sculpting it with the pen. Then, those dark, almost nervous strokes around her neck and shoulders give her a kind of weight, a presence. It reminds me of some of Kathe Kollwitz's prints, that same starkness and directness. It’s like Segonzac is having a conversation with the paper, a back and forth of intention and accident. Art isn't about perfection, it’s about embracing the mess, the uncertainty.