Carolina on white background 1961

Alberto Giacometti made "Carolina on white background" using pencil on paper. The linear quality of this drawing is what stands out, and this is achieved through the simple, yet profound act of repeatedly applying the pencil to paper. Giacometti coaxes subtle tonal variations, building up the image through a network of layered marks. Look at the way the figure seems to emerge from the whiteness of the ground, not through careful contouring, but by a dense accumulation of graphite. The stark, unadorned nature of pencil on paper underscores the artist’s commitment to direct, unpretentious expression, using materials that are humble and accessible. This emphasizes the labor involved in the creative process; a process of searching, erasing, and re-drawing that reveals the artist's hand and mind at work. It's a potent reminder that art can be found not only in grand gestures, but also in the most elemental of materials.