Bacchus c. 1930s - 1940s

This drawing of Bacchus was made by Henk Henriët, but we don’t know exactly when. It’s just graphite on paper, but the artist coaxes a surprising range of textures and tones from such a simple material. What strikes me is the contrast between the softness of Bacchus's face and the almost aggressive scribbles of his hair, those grapes like little cannonballs. The density of the marks in the hair gives way to the smooth shading of the skin, creating an interesting tension. See how Henriët captures the volume of the face with such economy? It reminds me of some of the quick figure studies made by Rubens, where the line is just enough to suggest form and weight. Henriët leaves other sketched figures in a ghostly state beneath the main image, like afterthoughts or abandoned ideas. This reminds me that art isn't about perfection, but about exploration and the messy process of finding your way.