Untitled (Phallus Girl) 1964

This is an untitled drawing by Hans Bellmer; it’s all delicate pencil lines on paper. The drawing feels like a dream, you know, not quite there but definitely going somewhere, maybe even a little unsettling. The textures Bellmer creates are incredible, from the wispy hair to the almost solid forms that make up the body. Look at how the lines vary – some are light and almost disappear, while others are dark and create deep shadows. It's like he's building the image from the inside out. Notice the way the shading gives the figure a real sense of depth, especially around the torso. The striped stockings give this bizarre form a fashionable, almost playful touch. Bellmer reminds me of Louise Bourgeois, who also explored the body and its anxieties in her art. His work invites us to embrace ambiguity and find our own meanings within the lines.