Portrait of a Woman c. 1986s

Saul Steinberg created this "Portrait of a Woman" using pen and graphite. The artwork presents a seated female figure, drawn with crisp lines, capturing her in a moment of contemplation. Steinberg's work plays with perception and representation, and is evident in the way he depicts the woman's features, exaggerating some elements while simplifying others. The eyes, for example, are large and expressive, drawing the viewer's attention to her gaze. The linear quality of the drawing, combined with minimal shading, gives the piece a graphic, almost cartoonish feel. The woman's pose, with her hand touching her face, suggests introspection or perhaps a hint of melancholy. The composition is straightforward, but it’s the subtle distortions and stylized rendering that makes the portrait so compelling. It invites us to consider the relationship between reality and representation, and questions our assumptions about identity and appearance.