Head of Man Smoking c. early 20th century

Charles Demuth made this pencil drawing called 'Head of Man Smoking,' and right away, I’m imagining the scratch of that pencil on paper. Look at how the lines are tentative, almost like Demuth is feeling his way around the form. I can relate! It’s like he’s not entirely sure where he's going, but he's willing to let the drawing lead him. See how the man’s cap isn't just one line, but several, hovering around each other? It reminds me of Cézanne searching for the perfect contour, that sense of constant adjustment and revision. I wonder what Demuth was thinking about as he drew this guy? Was he a friend? A stranger? I love how the simplest marks can convey so much. It’s like a conversation, a quiet, intimate exchange between the artist and his subject, captured in a few humble lines. It makes me want to pick up my own pencil and start drawing, to join in that age-old dialogue between artists across time.