Milliner (Putzmacherin II) 1922

Karl Hofer made this compelling image of a milliner using sparse and gestural marks, probably in ink or charcoal on paper. Just imagine the artist, Hofer, making those lines! I can almost feel the scratch of the tool on the surface and the pressure of his hand that gives the marks their shape. It's interesting, isn't it, how much information can be conveyed with so little? The slanting lines suggest the angle of the woman’s body and the chair she’s sitting on, creating a sense of depth and space. He’s unafraid of leaving large areas blank, letting the eye fill in the details. Looking at this, I think about other artists who work with such economy, like Matisse with his cut-outs. It’s all about suggestion, and leaving room for the viewer to participate in the act of seeing. As painters, we’re all in conversation with each other, across time, borrowing and riffing off ideas, playing a kind of call and response. It's this ongoing exchange that keeps art alive and evolving.