Spectators (Les Spectateurs) 1922

Andre Dunoyer de Segonzac made this print of two men, using ink on paper. It's all about the line here, so casual, so direct, but somehow it perfectly captures the attitude of these two characters. The marks are so simple, economic, almost like a shorthand. See how he uses quick, repetitive strokes to define the cap, creating a sense of volume and texture. The lines aren't precious or fussy; they're just there, doing their job. I love how the paper itself is allowed to breathe, with so much empty space around the figures. This is kind of like when you are painting a big canvas and keep stepping back to see how a single mark sits within the totality of the picture. Segonzac’s work reminds me a little of Lucian Freud's etchings, in the sense of pared-down directness. Like Freud, he seems more interested in capturing a feeling or essence than in photographic likeness. Art is always an ongoing conversation, isn't it? And this piece is a reminder that sometimes, less really is more.