Christian Rois 2022

Gazmend Freitag made this portrait of Christian Rois in 2022, using graphite pencil on paper. The artist's skilled application of graphite builds up areas of shadow, creating volume and depth on the page. Although pencil drawing might seem like a straightforward medium, it has a rich social history. Graphite itself, since its discovery in the 16th century, has been associated with both high art and industrial production. The 'lead' in pencils isn't actually lead at all, but a mixture of graphite and clay that can be manufactured to different grades of hardness. These variations affect the darkness of the mark, allowing for the subtlety of tone we see in this image. Here, Freitag uses the pencil to capture not just a likeness, but also something of his subject’s character. Through subtle gradations, Freitag coaxes the pencil to describe the unique aspects of Rois. The pencil is a relatively humble tool, but in the hand of a skilled artist, it's capable of remarkable expression. It blurs the lines between the idea of ‘fine art’ and everyday drawing.