Stående figur 1919

This striking piece is a lithograph by Vilhelm Lundstrom and is titled Stående figur. The use of lithography allows for these bold, dark marks to feel almost sketched, immediate and process-driven. Look closely, and you’ll notice the figure is composed of intense, dark strokes that define its form against the stark background. The texture feels almost coarse, due to the density of the ink and how it gathers in certain areas, giving a sense of depth. The shadow that defines the front of the torso reminds me of the work of Picasso, especially the density of marks around the head. It's like the figure is emerging from the darkness, or perhaps being consumed by it. That hand clutching a head in the air, like a prop from Hamlet, really grabs me. It's a gesture that asks so many questions, and leaves the story wide open. It's this embrace of ambiguity that makes art so endlessly fascinating.