Head of a Coster Girl 1920

Gerald Leslie Brockhurst created ‘Head of a Coster Girl’ with graphite on paper. Look at the smooth gradations of tone here, almost like a photograph. Imagine him at work, building up the form with careful, precise marks. I wonder what Brockhurst was thinking about as he drew? Was he focused on technical skill, or the inner life of the sitter? The way he renders the light on her cheek suggests real care. The softness of the graphite gives her skin a delicate, luminous quality. Think about the tradition of portraiture he’s working within, all those artists who have tried to capture a likeness, a presence. Each one brings something new, and builds on what came before. It's like we're all in a studio together, just talking about painting. Making art is an ongoing conversation, echoing through time.