Neo Deco – 04-08-25

Website link: https://corneakkers.com/neo-deco-04-08-25/
Print: https://corneakkers.com/print-neo-deco-04-08-25/
Printable: https://corneakkers.com/product/printable-neo-deco-04-08-25/

A Rather Extreme Pose

This graphite pencil drawing ‘Neo Deco - 04-08-25’ is a special one. A rather extreme pose or should I say an extreme picture? That was the reason I was attracted to Emmanuel Sougez’s pho-tograph. What a wonderful artist he is! Taken of a pose Assia Granatouroff struck in front of his camera in the 1930s I believe. He decided to have her leg almost touch the right side of the lens. Her head is tucked into the upper left corner. Basically, the whole lower left side con-sisted only of folds in bed sheets. I simply adore these unusual poses. Nothing more irritating than drawing or painting normal and lush ones. So many other artists already are proficient enough in depicting trifles. Not for me, I want to show more than only unnecessary beauty or aesthetics.

Searching for Value to Add

This having said, I did strive for adding plenty of value to the mix. First, I thought the picture was a bit too dark. My last drawing met my expectations as to opening up forms. Consequently, I had the same intention have open up for this one too. Keep it fluffy and abstain from darkening forms too much. Risk unwanted enclosures. Besides that, I wanted to create a more abstracted Assia variety. Something that would force people to look better without loosing the resemblance too much of course. Eventually I found a suitable combination of some interesting straight linear structures and curves. Long have I pondered over the bed sheet folds. Should I incorporate them or just leave them be? It became the latter because I didn’t think they were an asset to the collective. Therefor, the emphasis solely is on the cubism that brings the body in view.

Graphite pencil (Faber Castell, Pitt Graphite Matt, 14B) drawing on Fabriano Ingres paper (21 x 28.2 x 0.1 cm)
Artist: Corné Akkers