G 402 lrg Walter Girotto

The drawing presents a figure rendered in muted tones, predominantly ochre and beige, against a light background. The subject is a woman, depicted from the chest upwards, enveloped within a large-brimmed hat that obscures much of her hair. Dark sunglasses conceal her eyes, contributing to an air of anonymity and detachment. She holds a cigarette between her fingers, the smoke curling upward towards the frames upper edge.
The artist has employed a technique characterized by soft lines and subtle gradations, creating a hazy, almost dreamlike quality. The figure’s form is suggested rather than precisely defined; contours are blurred, and details are minimized, lending an ethereal feel to the composition. Her arms are crossed over her chest, a gesture that can be interpreted as defensive or self-protective.
The subtexts within this drawing appear layered. The oversized hat and sunglasses suggest a deliberate attempt at concealment, perhaps indicating a desire for privacy or a rejection of public scrutiny. The cigarette introduces an element of transgression and nonchalance; it is presented not as a vice to be condemned but as a casual accessory. The woman’s posture, combined with the obscured facial features, evokes a sense of mystery and aloofness.
The overall effect is one of melancholic glamour – a portrait of someone who exists on the periphery, observing rather than participating. Theres an underlying tension between vulnerability (suggested by the exposed upper body) and guardedness (manifest in the protective arm position and obscured features). The drawing seems to explore themes of identity, concealment, and the complexities of female presentation within a potentially judgmental gaze.