Istuva alaston malli 1902 - 1909

Magnus Enckell made "Istuva alaston malli" with watercolour, and what hits me is how the minimal colour choice emphasizes process. The ochre, the washes, it feels like a peek into Enckell's studio, watching him think through form. There is an interesting tension between the defined brushstrokes suggesting the human form, and the way the shadow has been rendered as an abstract mass. The paint isn't overworked, but laid down in thin, deliberate layers, allowing the white of the paper to breathe. I love the way the ghost of a figure looms behind her, as if the image is revealing itself as you look. Notice the shadow to the right, it looks like a blob, almost as if he wiped his brush there. To me this mark represents the artist considering and reconsidering his approach to the piece. This work makes me think of Marlene Dumas, especially in the way she uses the movement of ink and watercolour to evoke the presence of her subjects. Ultimately, art is just a conversation, and it's up to us to listen in.