Beridersken. 1908 - 1909

Othon Friesz made this lively drawing in ink wash, and charcoal, maybe around the early 20th century, capturing a figure in motion, a rider perhaps. It's all about the gesture here, the sweep of the arm, the tilt of the body. Friesz is letting the process show, the lines are loose, searching, like he's thinking through the form right there on the page. Look at how the ink bleeds and pools, creating depth and shadow with so little detail. The charcoal adds a scratchy texture, grounding the figure, it is very immediate. The riding crop in the figure's raised hand is so boldly rendered, almost aggressive. This one small element speaks to the dynamic force of the whole piece. Friesz clearly looked to artists such as Daumier in his approach to depicting social themes. I see this piece as less about perfect representation, and more about capturing the energy and attitude of a moment. The beauty of this drawing is that it doesn't give us all the answers, instead, it invites us to imagine the story for ourselves.