Studies of Aphrodite for "Aphrodite and Eros" 1919 - 1920

John Singer Sargent made this study of Aphrodite, probably with charcoal or graphite on paper. Isn't it amazing to think about Sargent making the marks and lines with his hands? Look how the figure emerges from the page in dark and light tones. You can almost feel the artist's hand moving across the page, shading and shaping the figure with each stroke. I love the arm up in the air like that. What's she about to do? Reach for something? Or is this just a part of trying to understand the figure? I always wonder what it must have been like for the artist in front of the model, working to capture the essence of their subject. I imagine him, pencil in hand, stepping back, squinting, going in again, thinking, feeling, seeing. In the corner, you can see more attempts to capture the essence of a hand, a face. You can see him thinking. That’s how it is for many artists; you just keep trying and working it over. That's the beauty of drawing – it's about the ongoing conversation between artist, medium, and subject, isn't it? It's always evolving and changing, embracing the ambiguity and uncertainty of the creative process.