In the Realm of the Mothers III 2014

Jenny Saville made this charcoal drawing, In the Realm of the Mothers III, which is all about these incredible slashing marks, some smudged, some clean, and a daring use of red against the grey. It's like watching her wrestle with the form, trying to get it just right, which is what art is all about. The thing I love about this piece is how immediate it feels. Saville isn't afraid to show her working. You can see the process, the revisions, the energy of her hand. The charcoal is thick in some places, creating these dark, dense areas, and then thin and scratchy in others, letting the light through. And that red, wow! It cuts through the composition like a jolt of electricity, adding a layer of intensity and rawness. It's a bold, unapologetic gesture. There's something about the way Saville layers and distorts the figures that reminds me of Francis Bacon. Both artists are interested in the human body as a site of transformation, pain, and beauty. Both embrace ambiguity and resist easy answers.