Emperor 2018

Allison Reimold made *Emperor* in the late 20th century, likely using graphite and colored pencil. The drawing is impressive for its photorealism, which must have required many hours of exacting work. You can see this meticulousness in the rendering of the woman's hair and the subtle gradations of light on her face. It’s a slow, additive process, where each mark builds upon the last. The two bright moths, which contrast with the grayscale portraiture, are suggestive of the handcraft of fashion, where embellishment and adornment are often key. Note how the crisp lines of the garment also suggest the world of manufacturing: even the hand-drawn can evoke mass production. By emphasizing the labor-intensive nature of both the portrait and its decorative elements, Reimold asks us to consider the value we place on both skill and the handmade. It blurs the lines between what we consider fine art and the craft traditions that often go unacknowledged.