Model. Right foot, left foot 1915

Boris Kustodiev made this drawing of a reclining nude figure out of charcoal on paper. The softness of the charcoal gives the piece a hazy, dreamlike quality. You can almost feel the artist gently coaxing the image out of the paper. The rosy blush of the skin tones is achieved through delicate shading. The way the charcoal is layered creates a sense of depth. See how the artist captures the weight and volume of the figure with such simple means? And look at the unfinished foot, just barely suggested. It’s like the drawing is still breathing, still in the process of becoming. This sketch reminds me of some of Degas’ figure drawings, sharing that same interest in the human form. Kustodiev invites us to appreciate art not just as a finished product, but as a record of looking, feeling, and thinking.