Seated Nude with Tulle Blouse (Nu assis à la chemise de tulle) 1925

Here we have 'Seated Nude with Tulle Blouse', a drawing by Henri Matisse. Look at the way the hatching builds up the form, how the lines vary in weight and direction. It's all about process, right? You can see how Matisse is thinking, feeling his way around the figure. There's a real physicality to the drawing. You can almost feel the pressure of the pencil on the paper. The way he uses line to create shadow and volume. Notice, for instance, the density of lines around the knee, giving it weight and solidity. The lighter, more delicate lines across her torso suggest a softness and vulnerability. It’s all in the touch. Matisse was a master of line, and you see his influence everywhere, from Picasso to Twombly. But this drawing is pure Matisse, a conversation between line and form, shadow and light, and a constant searching. There’s no final answer, just the beautiful, messy process of trying to see.