Kopfstudie, aus; ‘Profile’, 10 Blätter, Graz I 1924

Karl Wiener made this head study, one of ten sheets, using graphic media, although when and where is unknown. What strikes me is the texture he gets from the hatching, those little lines all grouped together like they’re having a meeting on the paper. Look at how the yellow on the forehead turns into darker blues around the hair, it is like he is sculpting with color. The surface isn't smooth or blended; you can see every stroke, which gives it this raw, immediate feel, like you’re watching the drawing come to life. It reminds me a little of the early Expressionists, like Kirchner, who used bold lines and colors to convey intense emotions. I love how the marks around the ear suggest shape without fully defining it; it's like Wiener is inviting us to fill in the gaps, to participate in the act of seeing. To me, that openness is what makes art so endlessly fascinating.