Tondo 1962

James McGarrell made this 'Tondo', using line to create tone and form. It's all about the build-up, you know? The cross-hatching creates this incredible depth, like he’s coaxing the figure out of the paper. Looking closer, I am really drawn to the way the light falls across the cheek and brow. It is rendered with such care, using layers of tiny, precise strokes. These marks, they’re not just descriptive. They’re expressive, giving the face a gentle softness. I love how this gives the head a sense of being caught in thought, in transit. This reminds me of some of Lucian Freud’s drawings. He also built up his images slowly with marks. Both artists create an image which has the quality of something half-remembered. But that’s the magic of art, right? It’s never about fixed meanings, it is about opening up possibilities.