La jeune malade 1903

Henri Fantin-Latour made this lithograph, "La jeune malade," and it's just so delicate. It’s all about the subtle variations in tone, using the lithographic crayon to build up these smoky, soft areas. It really feels like he's feeling his way through the image. You can see the way the figure emerges from the darkness with these light, feathery strokes. The texture almost makes her seem to dissolve into the background, like she’s part of a dream. Look at the unfinished study on the right, that’s process right there! Those quick, confident lines are so expressive. I think of Odilon Redon when I look at this. They both understood how to conjure a mood, an atmosphere, using the most minimal means. It reminds us that art isn't always about having all the answers, it's about exploring the questions, even if they are ambiguous.