Karen Schweitzer 2018

Alfred Freddy Krupa made this drawing, "Karen Schweitzer," in 2018, using graphite on paper. The process is right there on the surface; you can see the individual marks, like the artist is thinking through the image, one little line at a time. I'm drawn to the way the shading defines Karen's face, especially around the eyes and cheekbones. The artist really captures a sense of weight, not just of her flesh, but also the weight of her gaze. Look at the way the graphite is layered to build up the tones; it's almost sculptural. You can imagine him holding the pencil loosely and intuitively. The overall effect is quiet, honest and contemplative. There's a clear connection between this work and the tradition of portraiture. Yet, it also reminds me of the drawings of Lucian Freud, in the way it balances a sense of intimacy with a cool, detached observation. Art is like one big conversation, don't you think?