Erald Dervishi 2021

Gazmend Freitag made this graphite drawing, "Erald Dervishi", in 2021. It's all about the touch, isn’t it? The soft gradations of tone, built up layer after layer. Look at the face, how Freitag coaxes out the form with these tiny, almost hesitant marks. The paper is bare in places, letting the white shine through, so the whole thing feels light, airy. There’s a lovely bit just under the left eye—shadow, cheekbone, all suggested with the barest whisper of graphite. It's like Freitag is thinking aloud, each mark a new consideration of the subject. You can sense his hand moving across the paper, feeling for the right line, the right shadow. It reminds me of Alex Katz, the way he captures a likeness with such economy and casualness. Ultimately, art isn't about answers, but about questions, about seeing the world in new ways.