Adam and Eve (12) 1970

Pietro Lazzari made this drawing, Adam and Eve (12), using ink, and some paper. It's a kind of ghostly image isn’t it? The ink is diluted, almost like a stain, and it pools in certain areas, creating depth, so the figures emerge through the process. Look at how the ink bleeds out across the base of the image, creating a chaotic foundation. This is echoed in the dense marks that define the figures. I am reminded of the work of Cy Twombly. Although Twombly is usually on a much larger scale, here the gestural abstraction creates a similar sense of ambiguity. In both instances, the process is on full display. This isn't about perfection, or an attempt to create a likeness. Instead, it invites us to participate in the act of seeing and interpretation.