Pjetër Bogdani 2016

Gazmend Freitag made this drawing of Pjetër Bogdani, a figure from Kosovan history, on paper in 2016. It’s the kind of piece that makes you think about how marks can carry so much feeling. I love the way Freitag uses color, almost like a memory. The orange and red hues around the figure give him a fiery energy, while the cool grey pencil lines add a touch of solemnity. Look at the lines in the beard; they're so expressive, almost like each one tells a story. The texture of the paper shows through, too, which keeps it raw and immediate. It's like Freitag is showing us his process, not just the final image. It reminds me a bit of work by Marlene Dumas, in the way she captures a likeness with so much feeling through just a few, well-placed lines. Art's always talking to art, right? Anyway, this piece feels like a question, not an answer, and that's what makes it interesting.