Portrait on the Horizon

About the work

An elongated face stands close to the middle of the sheet. A few fine lines indicate the eyes, long nose and small mouth, with closer intersections around the hair and neck. A horizontal passes behind the figure at the base of the head. Narrow, buildinglike forms rise on the left, with small silhouettes on the right. A large circular loop occupies the upper right corner.

The spacing between marks provides the main expressive resource. Broad unfilled areas keep each small detail visible. The curve of the shoulders continues the movement of the oval, while the long horizontal balances its vertical axis. Portrait and landscape share a shallow space in which the head becomes a prominent reference point for the other forms.