Sir 1975

Frederick Hammersley made 'Sir' with graphite on paper, though we don't know exactly when. Hammersley's process of artmaking feels apparent in this piece, with the visible shading that brings volume to the figure’s form, and the clear layering of the lines. The texture here is interesting, since the tooth of the paper and the softness of the graphite allow for a kind of blurry effect. The face is like a puzzle; a series of geometric shapes and smudged lines come together to form a man. I'm drawn to the strange swirl that makes up the eye, which feels like a focal point. Its placement, slightly off-kilter, adds to the overall feeling of a slightly distorted reality. Hammersley’s approach is somewhat reminiscent of Picasso's cubist portraits, but with a softer edge. Both artists play with the idea of deconstructing and reassembling the human form, challenging our perceptions of reality. Ultimately, ‘Sir’ invites us to embrace ambiguity and find beauty in the unexpected.