Illustration for Ilarie Voronca's "Plante și animale” 1929

Constantin Brâncuși made this illustration for Ilarie Voronca's "Plante și animale” with a pen, and you can tell he’s all about simplifying things down to their bare bones. It's like he's saying, "What's the least I can do to make you see what I see?". Check out that snail! It's just a spiral and a line, but you instantly know what it is. Brâncuși wasn’t interested in showing off fancy techniques; he was after something more essential. The line is wiry, and a little uneven, which gives the drawing a playful feel. There is a flatness to the image that reminds me of Joan Miró's playful approach to form. This piece isn't trying to be perfect, and that’s what I love about it. It’s like Brâncuși is reminding us that art isn't about being polished, it's about seeing the world in a fresh, maybe even a childlike way.