Unknown I

This drawing, made with charcoal on paper, captures the face of a young man whose expression is a mixture of strength and softness. Charcoal, with its ability to create intense contrasts and emotionally charged strokes, allows us to explore both the texture of the skin and the depth of the gaze. Unlike graphite, charcoal does not seek surgical precision, but rather an atmosphere, a feeling that breathes between line and shadow.

The process began with loose, gestural strokes, letting the face emerge little by little from the white void. The technique plays with the ephemeral: smudges, blurring with the fingers, lines that are almost completely erased and others that cling to the paper. Each layer is a decision between what is revealed and what is insinuated.

The figure depicted, with subtly effeminate features, does not respond to a specific ideal, but seeks to question it. What defines masculinity? Where does femininity begin? This face inhabits that in-between space, that terrain where labels are diluted. There is no fixed narrative; only a silent presence that invites us to look without prejudice.

Even the imperfections—accidental smears, fingerprints caught in the medium—are part of the story. They ground the portrait in reality, reminding us that this is not a polished icon, but a human being, captured in a moment of becoming. The drawing resists conclusion. It asks questions rather than offering answers, and in doing so, becomes a mirror for the viewer.

It is not just a portrait. It is an exploration of identity, of presence, of the fragile line between being seen and being understood.