Hoofd van een vrouw 1866 - 1939

This is Bernard Willem Wierink's "Hoofd van een vrouw," a small etching. I love the way a simple medium like etching can distill a form down to its barest essence. It’s all about the line, isn't it? Look closely and you'll see how the scratches define this woman’s face, how the varying pressure creates depth and shadow. It’s all suggestion, a sort of visual shorthand that lets our minds fill in the blanks. The whole thing is like a little poem, each line a word chosen with care. It reminds me of the reductive approach of someone like Agnes Martin, though obviously with very different subject matter. Both artists share a similar interest in the power of simplicity, in the idea that less can be more. It's a good reminder that art doesn't always have to shout to be heard; sometimes, the quietest voices are the ones that resonate the most.