Three Figures c. 1965

Jirí Balcar made this drawing, Three Figures, with ink and watercolor on paper. The first thing that strikes me is how immediate and process-driven it feels. Balcar’s mark-making is raw, with scribbled lines and blotchy washes of color. It's like the figures emerged from a haze of pure feeling. The palette is muted, mostly grays and blacks, punctuated by these bursts of red and purple that feel almost violent. The materiality of the piece is so present. You can see the paper, the way the ink bleeds into it, how the watercolor pools and dries. There's a beautiful tension between control and chance that keeps the eye moving. Look at the figure on the left. The strokes are loose and gestural, giving it a sense of movement. It’s like Balcar is reminding us that art isn't just about representation, but about the act of creation itself. It reminds me of Willem de Kooning’s works. Both artists share a willingness to embrace imperfection and to let the process guide the final outcome. These artists invite us to question what art can be, and whether there can ever be one true way of seeing.