Seated Nude Model, Facing Left 1912

Wilhelm Lehmbruck made this drawing of a seated nude model, facing left, with pencil on paper. The lines are so delicate, almost shy, it's like he's trying to capture a fleeting thought rather than a solid form. It’s all about the process of finding the figure, not stating it. The texture of the paper itself becomes part of the image, a subtle backdrop for the tentative strokes. Look at the way the light seems to dissolve the edges of her body, especially around the shoulders and the curve of her leg. It's less about a precise representation and more about a feeling, a mood. The model's gaze is gentle, unassertive, and vulnerable. Lehmbruck's approach reminds me a little of Rodin, but with an added layer of fragility. It’s as though he’s inviting us to contemplate the human form with empathy and a sense of shared vulnerability.