Chanel 1932

Jean Cocteau sketched this image of Chanel with ink on paper; it’s all about line, you see that right away. The thing that grabs me in this drawing is how much the blankness of the face adds. The total lack of detail there, the void, almost makes it more lifelike. It's like Cocteau's saying, ‘Hey, you fill in the blanks.’ In a way, he makes it easier for us to connect with the subject; it’s like we’re looking in a mirror. This erasure reminds me of the work of the American painter, Philip Guston. Guston’s late work, known for its cartoonish figures and bold lines, wasn’t trying to tell you what to think, but rather, how to feel. And that’s what Cocteau is doing here, turning a portrait into something more felt than seen. Ultimately, art isn't about answers; it's about the questions.