Staande naakte vrouw 1872 - 1934

Armand Rassenfosse made this standing nude figure in pastel, without a known date. What I like about this piece is the economy of means. The marks are so delicate, almost tentative. They create the impression of a figure emerging from the ground of the paper. Check out the blue-ish marks around the figure's head and shoulders, see how they dissolve into the surrounding space. The paper itself is part of the image, providing the overall tonality and sense of light. Rassenfosse’s lines don't define the figure so much as suggest a presence, and the pose itself, with the figure looking downward, and the hand holding a towel, gives the piece a sense of intimacy. For me, it recalls Degas’ pastel drawings, but with a softer touch. It's like Rassenfosse is whispering a secret about the human form, rather than shouting it from the rooftops. It reminds me that the power of art lies not in what it shows, but in what it suggests.