Studieblad met zes naakte vrouwen c. 1903

This sketch of six nudes was made by Henri Fantin-Latour with graphite on paper. The bodies emerge from a soft, grey haze. Each figure seems caught in a moment of reflection or pause, the graphite lines hovering between presence and absence. I imagine Fantin-Latour, pencil in hand, circling each form, building tone and volume with delicate strokes. A study sheet like this is such a generous and intimate thing. It allows us to see an artist working through an idea, testing different poses, exploring the nuances of light and shadow. Fantin-Latour's drawing reminds me of Degas or Seurat, artists similarly obsessed with capturing the human form in motion, through subtle mark-making. There's an immediacy and vulnerability to sketches. They show how artists are constantly experimenting and learning from one another, building upon the traditions of the past while forging new paths forward. It's like a visual conversation across time.