Head of Athena 1924

Konstantinos Parthenis made this head of Athena with pencil, watercolor and gouache on paper. There's a real sense of process here, isn't there? The way the layers build up and the marks sit so confidently on the surface, it feels like he was really figuring things out as he went. I mean, look at the ochre palette, how the whole image seems to glow from within. It's so warm and inviting. And then there's that line work. So delicate. But also so precise. See how the face is at once both geometric and organic? It's like Parthenis is trying to capture the essence of Athena, not just her likeness. Those little hints of blue are like tiny sparks of electricity, bringing the whole thing to life. You could spend ages poring over this piece, discovering new details each time. It reminds me a bit of Odilon Redon's dreamlike symbolism, but with a distinctly Greek twist. So good.