Poseeraava alaston mies 1902 - 1909

Magnus Enckell made this watercolor figure study using sanguine pigment at an unknown date. You can really get a sense of the artist finding the figure in the process of painting. I love the confident, loose handling of the paint. Look how Enckell describes the form with fluid washes and decisive strokes, layering the pigment to create depth and shadow. The redness of the paint gives the figure a warm, sensual quality. It's not overworked, but rather feels immediate and alive. Notice the linear strokes in the legs which create a sense of both form and dissolution. Enckell is clearly concerned with the act of painting, allowing the medium to speak. There’s a real play between the subject and the materiality of the work. I’m reminded of Egon Schiele and his similarly erotic, searching line. This work speaks to the enduring power of the figure in art, and how each artist brings their own unique vision to this timeless subject.