Portrait of a mother 1920

This is a pencil drawing by Zygmunt Waliszewski titled "Portrait of a Mother," where the artist captures the essence of his subject through a study in monochromatic tones and textures. The initial impression is one of subdued elegance, achieved through the economical use of lines and shading. Waliszewski masterfully employs hatching and cross-hatching to define form and create depth. The subject's face is rendered with a delicate touch, highlighting her features with subtle gradations of light and shadow. Notice how the lines vary in thickness and direction, animating the surface and lending a sense of volume to the figure. Her hat, a dark, geometric shape, is a bold contrast to the softer lines of her face and clothing, drawing attention to the architectural quality of the composition. Through his formal approach, Waliszewski invites us to consider the underlying structure and construction of the portrait, emphasizing the power of line and tone to convey both likeness and emotion. The drawing reminds us that an artwork's meaning is generated through its visual elements and their dynamic interplay.