The model for this charcoal drawing was an old photo, probably 
taken in the 1920’s. Cynthia worked from the well-preserved, 7” high oval original.
The emotions that inevitably accompany family photos can serve either a) as fuel to keep you working at the drawing or b) they can get in the way and overwhelm you. The class was divided along that line about half and half.
One of the people whose work was fueled by the emotions emanating from these oldies was Cynthia, who produced this strong drawing. The couple is handsome, but the artist did not glamorize them. It’s their wedding photo, but she did not sentimentalize them.
There are three elements in this drawing, as in the photo: man, woman and bouquet. Notice that the flowers are worked out in greater detail than the people. The outer half of the man’s face is not attended to at all. The woman’s face is asymmetrical, problematic and suggestive of
complexity.There’s a dark objectivity here, alienation even, reminiscent of the faces by Matisse and Picasso. This is good. Staying away from the pretty and the flattering and allowing yourself to drift into irony and alienation is good because it makes you think. Cynthia’s drawing comes out of a modern sensibility: it roughs you up a bit, because it avoids the clichés about weddings, happiness and destiny.
The drawing as a whole, showing the bride, groom and the flowers, sets up all sorts of tensions. The drawing is so strong that each of the three elements (man, women, bouquet) can also stand on its own. I’m showing these individually because each deserves close study. After looking closely, go back to look at the whole drawing, shown at the very top.
All contents copyright (C) 2010 Katherine Hilden. All rights reserved.
Hi Katherine
This is a lovely drawing. Incomplete, yet tells the whole story. My eye keeps going from the bouquet to the man’s face. He is the mystery in the drawing, a stand-in for every groom in every little girl’s wedding.
Hmm. Thank you for your comment, but consider this: 1)The drawing is by a mature woman. 2) Every little girl does not necessarily dream of a wedding.