Charcoal

David Bomberg - Self-portrait 1931 Charcoal and wash.

The twisted angle of the head in this charcoal drawing gives it a quirky, unorthodox feel. The paper has been left untouched to suggest the lightest areas and the charcoal marks become progressively stronger and blacker in the shadowed areas towards the jaw. The marks on the darker side of the face have been blended with a brush and thin wash of water giving a stronger sense of form and solidity. A cigarette or pencil protruding from the artists mouth forces the lips to curl in an expression that could be either a smile or sneer. The artists shirt has been sketched in loosely to make the viewer focus on the more detailed features of the face.

Using charcoal as a material for making a self-portrait

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