FIVE SCHOOLGIRLS 1954

Charles Blackman made this work, titled *Five Schoolgirls*, using charcoal and pencil on paper. Blackman's choice of materials, particularly charcoal, lends the work a raw, almost dreamlike quality. The varying densities of charcoal create depth and shadow, emphasizing the emotional weight of the subject matter. Pencil work defines the forms, imbuing the piece with a sense of immediacy. The rough texture of the paper further enhances this effect, contrasting with the smoothness that could be gained by using other supports. Blackman was known for his expressionistic style and evocative depictions of loneliness. With the use of materials associated with sketching and preliminary studies, Blackman presents these figures as fleeting, and perhaps vulnerable. The deliberate choice of such accessible media might suggest a desire to connect with everyday experiences, bypassing the artifice often associated with high art. It also highlights the labor involved in creating art, emphasizing the artist's hand and the act of drawing itself. Ultimately, the materials and processes used in *Five Schoolgirls* contribute to its haunting beauty, prompting us to question traditional distinctions between fine art and craft.