The Nephew 1929

Helene Schjerfbeck made this drawing of her nephew using soft, powdery charcoal. The nephew rests his head on his hand, lost in thought, with a furrowed brow that makes me wonder what’s going through his mind. I know that feeling when the weight of the world is on your shoulders. I wonder if Helene felt it too. You know, I feel like the charcoal has this soft and fragile quality, which really captures a sense of intimacy, vulnerability. When I look at this drawing, I’m reminded of other portrait drawings, like Käthe Kollwitz’s raw and emotional prints. There is a sort of unspoken connection, don't you think? Artists looking at each other’s work, responding, pushing each other.