Through Black Strands

About the work

The face appears close up, almost entirely enclosed by long intersecting strokes. Their directions shift around the eyes, nose and mouth: diagonals meet verticals, and broad loops surround denser passages. A long pale strip of nose stands out between the dark eye areas. Lines descend more freely at the sides, suggesting strands of hair. No single even contour is needed to hold the head together.

Looking alternates between recognising and losing detail. Following an individual stroke breaks a feature into intersections; stepping back restores the overall gaze. White intervals are as active as the black passages: they distinguish the bridge of the nose, separate the cheeks and prevent the dense surface from becoming uniform. The concentration of marks makes the face’s closeness particularly palpable.