Seated Woman 1970

Anton Refregier made this drawing, Seated Woman, with graphite in 1970. What strikes me first is the artist's commitment to process. You can almost feel his hand moving across the paper, building up the image with layers of delicate lines. Looking closely, you’ll see the subtle variations in tone achieved through hatching and cross-hatching. There’s a beautiful tension between the fluidity of the draped fabric and the more defined contours of the figure. Note, especially, the way the lines gather around the head and shoulders, creating a sense of weight and volume. You can see how the process is left visible, with no attempt to disguise or conceal the artist's hand. Refregier reminds me of Käthe Kollwitz, particularly in his empathetic portrayal of the human condition, and his graphic style. Like Kollwitz, Refregier invites us to engage with the artwork on a deeply personal level, finding meaning and resonance in the ambiguity and imperfection of the human experience.