Porträtkopf Gräfin von Wartensleben 1937

Ottilie W. Roederstein drew Gräfin von Wartensleben with graphite; the grey paper shines through all the marks, acting like a mist across the countess's face. The pencil strokes build the face out of shadow, and the softness of the graphite, which is a material I also love, creates a gentle image. Look at the area around the eyes: it’s not overworked but subtly suggested. Roederstein isn’t trying to capture a perfect likeness, but to create a feeling. The countess has a stern look, yet there's a vulnerability in her eyes. I am reminded of the work of Käthe Kollwitz, a contemporary of Roederstein, who also used the medium of graphic art to investigate the depths of human feeling. It speaks to how artists explore the world, translating fleeting moments into something tangible, yet open to endless interpretation.