Face Above the Chains

About the work

A rounded head occupies the upper part of the image. Two small eyes are set far apart, pale crossbars divide the dark mouth, and short strokes surround the forehead and recur above the lip. Beneath the face begins a dense pattern of vertical lines with rectangular turns and circular nodes. The soft outline of the head contrasts sharply with the stepped construction below.

Its expression depends on the uneven distribution of detail. The face is almost empty, while the clothing becomes a persistent sequence of repeated links. Small eyes maintain a calm frontal presence, given tension by the striped mouth. Repetition connects the two areas: separate hair strokes find an extension in the long chains. Portrait and ornament meet along the clear curve of the chin.