Study of Arms for "The Cadence of Autumn" 1905

Evelyn De Morgan made this study of arms for "The Cadence of Autumn" on paper. It’s an interesting peek into how artists work, right? De Morgan's use of color pencil on a toned ground gives a softness to the skin tones, but also allows for a stark contrast in the shadow areas, especially around the fingers. Look at that upper hand, cradling something unseen, a sort of ghostly presence implied by the unfinished quality around the shoulder, versus the lower hand grasping at whisps of hair. It's like two different moments of a dream sequence. The way De Morgan uses line to define form is almost sculptural. Think about the way Degas used pastel to build volume - there's a similar tactile quality here. It’s like she's carving these limbs out of the paper, giving them a weight and presence. It reminds me a bit of Burne-Jones, another artist from the period, who also used preparatory drawings as a means of exploring gesture. There's no one right answer with art, just a conversation that keeps evolving.