Kinderhoofd met open mond before 1913

Pierre Peeters made this head of a child with an open mouth, using etching, and it’s a great example of how art can be about process. You can see the lines where Peeters has been working, building up the image bit by bit. The marks aren't just descriptive, they’re expressive, each one a little decision, a little experiment. Look at the way the lines around the mouth are so dark and dense, really emphasizing that open, yelling mouth. You get a sense of the artist thinking aloud with the needle, trying to figure out how to capture this kid's expression. It reminds me of some of the old masters, like Rembrandt, who weren’t afraid to let the process show. Art isn't about hiding the struggle, but embracing it.