Studie zum Kopf der Dienerin für ‘Salome’ 1906

Franz von Stuck sketched 'Studie zum Kopf der Dienerin für ‘Salome’' on paper, and you can see the energy in the way he’s figuring things out, searching for the right line. Look at the head on the left, how solid it feels. The charcoal is layered, smudged, creating a real sense of volume and weight. Then, glance over to the right, and you'll notice how much lighter and more ghostly it is. It’s like he's not quite sure about it yet. He is still trying to figure out the angle of the face. Down below the hands are doing the same thing, solid and smudged, like they are emerging from the paper. This reminds me of some of Picasso’s studies, where he's working through ideas, letting us see his process, his doubts, and the joy of discovery. It’s a reminder that art isn’t always about perfection; it’s about the journey.