Mary 1936

Will Barnet made this drawing, ‘Mary,’ with charcoal, it seems. I am especially drawn to the way he used this medium to portray his sitter’s face. The charcoal creates this soft, almost velvety texture that just makes you want to reach out and touch it, doesn't it? Looking closely, the way Barnet built up the tones to create the illusion of light and shadow, it's a real process. He hasn’t concealed the physical actions of mark making. See how he’s smudged the charcoal around the edges of her face? It gives the drawing a kind of blurry, dreamlike quality, as though we’re seeing this woman through a veil. Her eyes are dark and kind of empty, which is compelling in itself. There’s a kind of simplicity to the drawing, isn’t there? It reminds me a little of Käthe Kollwitz’s prints and drawings, with that same emphasis on emotional expression. Ultimately, it's all about feeling. It’s a reminder that art is not just about what we see, but also about how we experience the world.