The plaster cast of my grandfather's face from 1954 (Mask) 1991

This drawing of a plaster cast was made by Alfred Freddy Krupa, likely in the early 1990s, judging by the signature. But it represents a mask from 1954, and here we see Krupa engaging with the past through a kind of indirect portraiture. Plaster casting is an ancient technique, capable of capturing incredibly fine detail. In this case, it would have involved taking a mold from the grandfather’s face, then using that negative form to produce a positive impression. It’s a laborious process, demanding patience and skill. The resulting mask carries an uncanny presence, a ghostly double of the original. Krupa’s drawing honors that process. The material – graphite on paper – is modest, yet he coaxes a full range of tones from it. The drawing isn't just a representation; it's a conversation across time, between artist, subject, and the very stuff of art itself. It reminds us that even the most apparently straightforward artwork is born of complex making.