Portræt af Per Reidarson 1907

This is Harald Giersing’s portrait of Per Reidarson, made with pencil on paper probably in Paris in 1907. I say "probably" because with drawing, especially, it’s all about the unfolding of the process, where the artist moves from one mark to the next. Looking at the scratchy lines defining Reidarson’s face, you can almost feel Giersing’s hand moving across the page, searching for a likeness. The weight of the line varies, and it’s clear some areas have been reworked. The loops of hair feel lighter, playful even. There's a kind of vulnerability in the searching quality of the line, it's very direct. This reminds me of drawings by Picasso and Matisse from the same period - a kind of pared down, searching simplicity. Drawings like this invite us to look closely, to participate in the act of seeing. They remind us that art is not about perfect representation, but about the ongoing exchange of looking and responding.