The Fragile 2007

Louise Bourgeois made ‘The Fragile’ with ink on fabric. The process looks quick, yet somehow deliberate, like a train of thought let loose on the page. The blue ink spreads like water, staining the raw canvas. I love the economy of the lines. Look at the legs, for example; just two lines, but they support this incredible form. The breasts are balloon-like, vulnerable, a protective shield. The colour pools around the nipples, drawing your eye. Bourgeois reminds me of Philip Guston in her ability to turn the personal into something universal. Both artists embrace a kind of raw honesty, turning inner turmoil into something we can all recognise. It's a reminder that art doesn't always need to be polished to be profound, and that sometimes the most powerful statements are the ones that feel the most fragile.