Hava Kurti Krasniqi 2020

Gazmend Freitag made this portrait of Hava Kurti Krasniqi in 2020 using graphite. You can almost feel the give and take of the pencil, as the artist searches for the right lines to capture the essence of his sitter. I wonder what it was like for Freitag in that moment, trying to catch the way the light falls on her face, the particular expression in her eyes. Look at the way he’s built up the shadows around her eyes and the side of her face. See how those quick, scribbled lines around the neck and shoulders create a sense of movement and energy. It reminds me a little of Lucian Freud’s drawings, the way he uses line to build form and create a sense of psychological depth. Ultimately, this drawing is a tender conversation between artist and subject, a testament to the power of observation and the enduring appeal of portraiture.