Nude 1909

Max Pechstein made this Nude around 1909 using paint and crayon on paper. It’s all about the luscious marks, you know? He’s really feeling his way around the form with these simple shapes. I love how the body is built up with these quick, confident strokes. Look at that green line snaking around the figure, it’s almost like a playful dare. Then there’s the way the peachy skin tones bump up against the ochre ground, it's not trying to be realistic. It's like he's inviting you to participate in the act of seeing. That little dab of red under the head feels so deliberate, like a tiny explosion of energy. The whole thing has this raw, immediate feel. It reminds me a little of Kirchner, but Pechstein's got his own swagger. It's all about the joy of painting, the pleasure of putting brush to paper and letting the image emerge.