Portrait of N.P. Dolgova 1921

Arkady Rylov made this drawing, 'Portrait of N.P. Dolgova' in 1921, probably in one sitting with charcoal or pencil. Look at the delicacy of the lines, they build up like soft whispers to describe this figure. I can almost feel the artist's hand moving across the page, building up the tones, finding the form. He is so gentle! It’s interesting how Rylov suggests the folds of the clothing and the pages of the book with the same kind of marks he uses for the face – a way of collapsing the background and figure, maybe, bringing them together in a tender embrace? What a generous act, to observe another person in such quiet detail, to make a picture as a way of knowing them. And in turn, Rylov teaches us to look, to see the world with the same kind of care and attention. It’s like he’s saying, “Hey, look at this person, isn’t she amazing?”