Model ved barren 1904 - 1907

Albert Marquet made this charcoal drawing, ‘Model ved barren’, in no specific year, and it invites us into his world of observation and mark-making. The raw, almost scribbled lines, especially around the figure's contours, really give you a sense of the artist working, thinking, and rethinking as he goes. You can almost feel the charcoal grinding into the paper, capturing not just the model's form, but also the energy of the moment. Look at the way Marquet shades the wall behind her, those loose, directional strokes – it’s like he's building up a space around her, not just depicting it. It’s like he’s thinking through the push and pull of light and shadow, creating depth with the most economical means. Marquet reminds me of Bonnard, both finding beauty in the everyday, capturing a sense of fleeting, intimate moments. Art's not about perfection, right? It's about the conversation, the process, and the messy, beautiful ambiguity of seeing.