Ivoire c. 1925

Walt Kuhn's Ivoire appears to be a work on paper, probably made with charcoal or conte crayon. I love to imagine the artist leaning in close, squinting, and trying to capture the model’s form in a flurry of strokes. There’s something so raw and intimate about the figure, isn't there? The weight of the charcoal lines feels sensual and heavy. I wonder if Kuhn was thinking of Manet or Degas? I imagine him trying to find the right balance between observation and expression, playing with light and shadow to give the figure depth and volume. It’s like he’s trying to sculpt her out of the paper itself! Artists are constantly engaging in a visual conversation with one another, riffing on ideas and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. In our own way, we keep the dialogue going.