Nimf met twee putti 1903 - 1906

Henri Fantin-Latour made this drawing, Nimf met twee putti, at some point in his life. I love the delicacy of it, the way the figures emerge tentatively from the white paper like hazy memories. You can see how the artist is feeling his way through the composition. The lines are tentative, searching – almost as if he is trying to capture a fleeting vision. It makes me think of the way artists like Manet were exploring mythological themes but with a more modern sensibility. Fantin-Latour is playing with the old masters but there's also something very personal and intimate about this drawing. It’s like he’s inviting us into his studio, to witness the moment of creation itself. Drawing is such an intimate medium, right? You are there with the artist and it's an exchange of ideas.