Nude Bending Forward 1916

Lovis Corinth made this drawing, Nude Bending Forward, using dark lines of ink or crayon to capture a figure in motion. It’s like he’s thinking on the page, letting the marks suggest the form rather than define it. I love the way Corinth uses line here – how some are dark and thick, really anchoring the figure, while others are light and sketchy, almost disappearing into the paper. It’s as if he’s mapping out the curves and hollows of the body, but also leaving space for it to breathe. Look at the way he renders the figure’s face. The expression, teetering between a grimace and a smile, gives her such a cheeky, worldly presence, so full of attitude. It reminds me of some of Marlene Dumas’s ink drawings where she captures so much character with so little. The drawing feels spontaneous, like a fleeting moment captured. It’s not about perfection, but about the energy and life of the pose. And for me, that’s what makes it so engaging.