Erald Dervishi 2021

Gazmend Freitag made this pencil portrait of Erald Dervishi in 2021. Look at how the subject's gaze holds a trace of a smile. When I look at this drawing, I think about all the marks that make it up. Some lines are darker, defining the subject's features, while others are lighter, suggesting the subtle play of light across his face. What was Freitag thinking as he built up the image, stroke by stroke? Did he start with the eyes, finding the spark of recognition there, or did he begin with the overall form, gradually refining the details? The smudging of the pencil creates a soft texture, almost like a memory fading at the edges. And that gaze... it's like he's inviting you to share in a private joke. It reminds me of Lucian Freud's portraits, capturing a raw, intimate sense of humanity. Artists, you know, we're all just riffing off each other, finding new ways to see and feel.