Portrait 1985

This is a portrait made with graphite by Morteza Katouzian, and what strikes me is the sensitivity in those soft, smudged lines. There's a real sense of process here, of the artist feeling their way into the image. Graphite, of course, is all about tone and texture. Look closely, and you can see how Katouzian coaxes light and shadow from the page. The way the graphite is built up in layers, soft and diffused, it’s a real treat for the eyes. The wool of her sweater is particularly evocative. But it's not just about skill, it’s also about capturing something of the sitter's inner life. Her gaze is directed slightly downward. There's an air of quiet contemplation. It reminds me a little of Lucien Freud’s drawings, in the way that it combines a certain realism with this real, palpable sense of mood. Ultimately, it’s a reminder that art is always about interpretation, suggestion, and that there's no one right way to see.