Foot study (30.11.1991) 1991

Alfred Freddy Krupa made this foot study on paper with graphite, back in 1991. I love the hatching and cross-hatching that builds up the form, it's like he's feeling his way around the foot. When I look at this foot study, I think about the artist, probably very young, maybe even looking at his own foot for a study. It's pretty intimate. I think about how, with each stroke, he's not just recording what he sees but also interpreting, feeling, and understanding the form. The marks are so varied – some are light and feathery, others are dark and assertive, it gives the foot an almost palpable presence. You can see this sort of drawing in the works of other artists like Egon Schiele. It's like a conversation across time, with each artist adding their own unique voice. The conversation continues today, as new artists pick up pencils and brushes, inspired by those who came before. It's all one big, messy, beautiful exchange of ideas.