Pige i særk 1861 - 1944

This drawing, Pige i særk, was made by Aristide Maillol, but we don’t know exactly when. What I notice first is the process, the lines feel exploratory and free. The strokes are tentative, like he’s feeling around for the form, not imposing it. There’s a kind of lightness in the marks, which adds to the feeling of a sketch, a moment captured. Look at the way he’s suggested the folds in the fabric - simple, almost casual lines, but they give you everything you need. This reminds me of work by Degas. There’s a similar interest in the figure, but less focused on capturing likeness, and more about expressing movement and form. Like Degas, Maillol is participating in an artistic conversation that stretches back centuries. And for me, that’s what art is all about: not just making something new, but joining a conversation that’s been going on for a very long time.