First Book: Chloe Casting Daphnis into Her Arms (Daphnis et Chloe se lavent ensemble dans la caverne des nymphes) Possibly 1937

Aristide Maillol made this illustration, Chloe Casting Daphnis into Her Arms, sometime in the early 20th century, with a pure, simple line. The limited palette throws the focus on form and the act of image-making itself. The texture of the page, the slight irregularities of the ink, they tell a story of process, a human story. Look at the way the lines dance around the figures, suggesting movement and emotion without being overly descriptive. It’s like Maillol is sketching out an idea, not just depicting a scene, and the marks feel confident, immediate. Notice how the line describing Chloe’s back curves so subtly, giving her form weight. And the way Daphnis’s arm wraps around her, a gesture of both protection and vulnerability. Maillol's simplicity reminds me of Matisse's line drawings, but with a more grounded, earthy feel. Both artists, though, invite us to see the world anew, through the elegance of a well-placed line. Art is always a conversation, an ongoing exploration.