Nude [recto] 

Editor: This ink drawing is titled "Nude [recto]" by Erich Heckel, though the exact year is unknown. There’s a palpable sense of vulnerability, but also a quiet strength in the figure's posture. How do you interpret this work? Curator: I see it as a poignant expression of the early 20th-century female experience, grappling with societal expectations and emerging freedoms. Expressionism often used the body to convey raw emotion, and here, the nude form is less about classical beauty and more about conveying a psychological state. How does the gaze, or lack thereof, strike you? Editor: It’s interesting you point that out, because she is not looking at us. The downward gaze feels like introspection, but perhaps also a discomfort with being seen? Curator: Precisely. Heckel was part of Die Brücke, a group deeply engaged with the politics of the body. Consider the historical context: this work likely emerged during a period of intense debate about women’s roles, sexuality, and artistic representation. Is the male gaze subverted by the vulnerable, yet self-possessed depiction, reflecting societal shifts and individual agency? Editor: I can see that. It feels like she's not posing for anyone but herself. Curator: And notice the jagged lines and somewhat unsettling shadows. This isn’t a comfortable nude in the traditional sense. It invites us to consider how female identity was being renegotiated and contested during this era of great social and political upheaval. The female form is front and centre of change, becoming her own person and shedding the gaze. Editor: That gives me a lot to think about. It’s less of an objectification and more of a statement about being. Curator: Exactly! Art is such a great resource, documenting eras that may feel completely at odds with current values and views. We learn from those before us to continuously promote equality and autonomy to create a future based on inclusivity.