Woman's Head in Profile (left) c. 20th century

Editor: This is Elie Nadelman's "Woman's Head in Profile (left)." It's just a simple line drawing, but it feels so elegant. What do you see in this piece? Curator: The work displays an economy of line that is quite striking. Note how Nadelman uses a continuous contour to suggest volume and form, reducing the subject to its most essential elements. The curvature and the tension it creates are especially compelling. Editor: So, it's less about what it *is* and more about *how* it is? Curator: Precisely. Observe the formal relationships between the lines and the spaces they define. These relationships construct the meaning. Editor: I see it now, the shapes *are* the subject. Curator: Indeed. We can appreciate the artist's formal choices and their impact.