Arlequin no.2 1966

Michel Ciry made 'Arlequin no.2', a monochromatic print, and it's all about the lines, a process of layering marks to build up this whole character. Look at the way the ink creates a shadowy depth behind the harlequin figure. It's not just filling in space; it's building the drama, using tone to bring out the textures, especially in the costume and the face. Ciry really uses the hatching technique to bring out the folds and the light on the fabric. It’s almost sculptural, right? And the face! It’s like he's pulling back the curtain a little, on his own soul, maybe. I see a kind of quiet intensity. Ciry reminds me a bit of Käthe Kollwitz, in his commitment to capturing the human condition. Ultimately, art's about seeing, feeling, and leaving room for more than one answer.