Study for "Model Resting" 1938

Albert Serwazi made this pencil study on paper for "Model Resting". I love this because you can see the process so clearly. It is a real window into the artist's thinking, his edits, and the ways he is negotiating the space of the paper. I imagine Serwazi grappling with the task of representing a complex three-dimensional world with just a pencil. He probably began by laying down some basic lines to establish the composition, the outline of the model's form, the pitcher, and the glass, maybe adjusting, erasing, and refining. Then, he started to build up the darker areas, using dense hatching to create shadows. It is fascinating to consider how this study relates to Serwazi's larger body of work and to that of other figurative artists. Ultimately, painting is a conversation, an exchange of ideas across time, where artists inspire one another. We find meaning through the expression of ambiguity and uncertainty, allowing for multiple interpretations.