Un Notable Afghan, Guirichk 1931

Alexandre Jacovleff made this portrait of "Un Notable Afghan, Guirichk" with pastel, and you can really feel the directness of that medium. I always admire when an artist doesn't try to hide the process. The marks here are so present. Look at how Jacovleff builds up the form of the turban with layers of blue and black strokes, letting the paper peek through. There's no attempt to blend perfectly. It's like he's inviting us to see the construction, the how of it all. And then the pops of color in the shawl – that juicy orange and green! It reminds me a bit of Matisse’s drawings, how he used line and color to capture the essence of a subject with such immediacy. It’s not about perfection. It's about capturing a moment, an impression, and letting us in on the joy of seeing. And isn't that what art's all about anyway?