Siddende kvindelig model, vendt mod venstre. 1906 - 1909

Othon Friesz made this drawing of a seated female model, turned to the left, with ink on paper. The marks feel urgent, as if Friesz were trying to capture the essence of the figure before it disappeared. The ink is applied in varied densities, creating a tonal range from light washes to sharp, dark lines. Look at the way the lines thicken and thin, suggesting weight and form. The texture of the paper is visible through the ink, adding another layer of depth to the drawing. Notice the smudges and drips around the figure, like ghostly shadows. The way that Friesz articulates the hands is particularly evocative. Friesz was part of the Fauvist movement. This piece reminds me of Matisse in its raw simplicity and focus on form and line. I see this work as part of an ongoing conversation about how we perceive and represent the human body. It’s open for interpretation, and that’s what makes it so compelling.