Seated Figure 1934

Arshile Gorky made this drawing, Seated Figure, using graphite on paper. The lines are so direct, aren't they? Like he's thinking right onto the page, feeling his way around the form. You can sense his hand moving, almost restless, trying to capture something essential. There's a sculptural quality to it, even though it's just lines. Look at the way he suggests volume with those quick, confident strokes. The texture of the paper comes through, adding to the raw, immediate feel. It’s like he’s not trying to hide the process, but rather celebrate it. I particularly love the area around the head – those overlapping lines create such a sense of depth and shadow, it really grounds the figure. This reminds me of some of de Kooning's drawings, that same energy and searching quality. I always feel that art isn't about answers, but about the questions we ask along the way.