Maurice Utrillo 1928

Suzanne Valadon drew this portrait of Maurice Utrillo, her son, in 1928, using ink on paper. I love the graphic quality of this piece! Valadon's mark-making has this urgent and searching quality. It reminds me of the way I sketch when I'm trying to really *see* something. I wonder what was going through Valadon's mind when she made this? Was she trying to capture her son's likeness, or something more? The hatching that defines the hair and beard give Utrillo's face a strong and determined feel. But it also looks a bit tentative, a bit vulnerable, don’t you think? The energy of the lines gives so much life to the image. For me, it's like a conversation between the artist and her son. It's about the push and pull of love, and the struggle to really know another person. It reminds us that art can offer insight, but never certainty.