Skamandros (Scamander) en naakte vrouw 1898 - 1918

This is Renoir’s “Skamandros (Scamander) en naakte vrouw”, made with etching. Look at the way the image emerges from a tangle of lines, a whole world conjured from what isn't actually there. The figures are formed from loosely sketched lines, creating a sense of light and movement. It's all suggestion and implication. The bodies are soft and rounded, almost melting into the background. The woman’s hand is particularly evocative. Notice how it is slightly blurred, conveying a sense of transience and touch. For me, there's a connection to the way Matisse also used line - especially in his late cut-outs – to create volume and form. But where Matisse goes for bold simplicity, Renoir is all about the delicate nuances of the etched line. It’s a conversation across time, each artist bringing their own voice to the eternal questions of form, body, and feeling.