Figure Study [recto] 1945 - 1948

Franz Kline made this ink drawing, Figure Study, with bold strokes on a small sheet of paper. You can almost feel his hand moving quickly, decisively, across the surface. I wonder what Kline was thinking as he made this drawing? Was he trying to capture a likeness, or was he more interested in the energy of the lines themselves? There’s something so raw and immediate about it. The ink is thin, almost watery in places, which gives it a sense of fluidity and movement. Look at how he uses these broad, gestural marks to define the figure’s form – or rather, to suggest it, because it's almost unfinished. Kline’s work reminds us that painting is a conversation, a back-and-forth between artists across time. He was influenced by so many artists, and in turn, his own work has inspired countless others. It's about embracing uncertainty, ambiguity, and the endless possibilities of what paint can do.