Isadora Duncan c. 1930s

Abraham Walkowitz made this drawing of Isadora Duncan with ink on paper. Imagine the artist watching the dancer. The line flows and leaps, trying to catch the dynamism of her movement. I love the sheer economy of the drawing. It’s all line, capturing form, space and light. Walkowitz is not just recording what he sees, but is in dialogue with the subject—the dancer's body and the energy she puts into her work. I can imagine he’s trying to bring that energy into his mark making, like a conversation. Look at how the draped fabric falls. You can see the influence of Rodin, with the linear simplicity recalling Matisse, but there’s also a feeling of Egon Schiele. Ultimately, it's Walkowitz's own personal expression through the ink line. This drawing is part of a larger conversation that artists have with each other across time, inspiring and cross-pollinating each other's creativity. Isn't that beautiful?