Bow Tie Above a Curl

About the work

A large head leans forward above a small black bow tie. A broad curve leads from the neck to a hand whose fingers rest on a rounded curl. Angular lines describing bent legs and a seat intersect below. The figure contains considerable pale space; a few dark accents establish the pose without filling the silhouette with a solid mass.

Two kinds of line meet here. Long flowing curves determine the body's general inclination, while short turns mark fingers, elbows and supports. The bow tie becomes a small but powerful focus of contrast. From it, the eye travels down the arm to the curl, then towards the angular lower section. Exaggerated proportions transform a quiet seated pose into an expressive arrangement of connected turns.