Liggende, gestikulerende kvinde. 1906 - 1909

Othon Friesz sketched "Liggende, gestikulerende kvinde" using pen and ink on paper. The drawing presents a reclining female figure, rapidly sketched with dynamic lines. These aren’t smooth contours but rather broken and angular. Look at the way Friesz uses hatching to suggest shadow and volume, creating a sense of depth despite the limited tonal range. The figure's outstretched arm and gesturing hand add a sense of dramatic expression. Friesz was a Fauvist painter. While this drawing lacks the vibrant colors typically associated with Fauvism, we can see how the movement's emphasis on expressive, non-naturalistic form influenced his approach to line and composition. Here, form follows feeling, a visual shorthand, where just a few lines can communicate a whole posture, a whole mood. The white space, too, is active here, creating a sense of airiness and incompleteness. Notice how the sketch captures movement and emotion through line alone. It invites us to consider how even the simplest of means can convey complex ideas about the human form and its potential for expression.