In this portrait, made with black chalk on paper, Rivera quickly established the outlines of her head and face, then carefully drew Modotti‘s eyes, nose, and mouth. Her facial features are striking and Rivera draws our attention to them using a series of simple, sinuous lines that are more expressive than realistic. He captured the strength of Modotti‘s character–she was a successful photographer in a country where women had few rights–and the gentleness of her features. Rivera contrasted his use of line and contour with careful shading, using the same chalk to make a wide range of values. He allowed the paper to show through to create highlights on her chin, nose, and forehead. They are balanced by the nearly black areas in her hair. The ways that the individual strands of hair stay distinct despite being in the darkest area of the drawing demonstrate Rivera’s consummate drawing skill.
