Siddende kvindelig model med højre arm over hovedet. 1906 - 1909

Curator: This is a drawing by Othon Friesz, titled "Siddende kvindelig model med højre arm over hovedet", or "Seated Female Model with Right Arm Over Head" dating from about 1906 to 1909. It's currently held at the SMK, the National Gallery of Denmark. Editor: My first impression is one of raw energy and maybe even a bit of discomfort, the pose feels very tense yet fluid with all of the dark scribbled lines, what do you make of it? Curator: Friesz, part of the Fauvist movement, was engaging with the artistic debates of his time. The Fauves, as the "wild beasts" were called, were critiqued for the use of vibrant, often clashing colours, as you can imagine this work is related through the unrefined style, even though this piece has a very different tone as it is a drawing. Editor: You know, the immediacy of the line-work is captivating. It shows process; the artist searching, correcting. It's not just a rendering of the figure; it’s a record of the act of making. Curator: Precisely! It speaks to the academy-driven norms regarding nudity in art as this raw energy could very easily be interpreted as vulgarity which clashes heavily with tradition. The setting is also crucial to understand as it offers an important opportunity to consider societal perceptions of the nude form, which continues to resonate with contemporary viewers. Editor: And considering the means of production; simple pencil and paper, immediate, accessible materials. No gilding, no marble. It democratizes the artistic process itself, doesn’t it? I wonder what paper this was sketched on as the grade in part is crucial to creating such bold sketching lines. Curator: Absolutely. The starkness removes the layers of artifice and prompts us to consider both the subject, model and audience directly while creating discourse, an element of expressionism which the Fauves helped push to the forefront in European culture. Editor: This artwork's power lies in that directness, wouldn’t you agree? Curator: Most certainly, what better tool to convey freedom and honesty in our own day? Editor: I'll raise a pen to that!