Portrait 1997

Morteza Katouzian made this drawing with pastels, and you can see the powdery strokes layering up to define the form. The tones are muted, with a cool blue-grey background, which gives it a contemplative mood. Look at the way Katouzian builds up the figure with these strokes. It's like he's feeling his way around the form, letting the marks accumulate until a likeness emerges. The red lines underneath add an exciting energy to the drawing, it feels so alive, as if the figure might move at any moment. This isn't about slickness or perfection; it's about the process of looking and translating what you see. I’m reminded of Lucian Freud, not necessarily in terms of style, but in the commitment to the process of observing. Both artists invite us to slow down and really see. The uncertainty, the messiness—that's where the art is. It's a reminder that art isn't about having all the answers, but about embracing the questions.