Portræt af maleren Sigurd Swane 1907

Harald Giersing made this drawing of the painter Sigurd Swane in Paris in 1907. It's just pencil on paper, so there's no real color to speak of, but that's fine with me; it doesn’t need it. It’s more about the making, and the simplicity brings that to the forefront. What I like about the piece is the artist’s hand is really present; it’s not overworked. The lines are thin, dark, and confident. Nothing is laboured over, and the whole piece has a lightness and ease that makes you feel like you’re standing in the room with the artist. The slight smile on the subject's face adds to that sense of ease. It reminds me a little of Picasso's line drawings, which were also so casual and sure. I think the magic of art is in that balance of capturing something real while leaving room for interpretation.