Nexhmije Pagarusha 2013

This is Gazmend Freitag's portrait of Nexhmije Pagarusha, done in 2013 with what looks like graphite on paper. You can see the artist’s hand moving across the page, hatching lines to build up tones and capture the likeness of this woman. I love how the hair has been described with these energetic marks. There's a real sense of movement and volume. I can imagine Freitag, his eyes darting back and forth between his subject and the paper, trying to capture not just what she looks like but also her spirit, her essence. The lines around the mouth and eyes suggest a life well-lived, full of laughter and maybe some tears too. It reminds me of some of those quick portrait sketches you see artists doing in cafes, capturing a fleeting moment in time. And it makes you wonder about the relationship between the artist and the sitter. What were they talking about as this drawing came to life? I imagine it’s a kind of dance. Artists, across time, inspire one another. We’re all in conversation.