Vrouwelijk naakt met opgeheven linkerarm 1874 - 1923

This is a red chalk drawing by Willem Witsen, a Dutch artist who lived from 1860 to 1923. The seemingly simple drawing belies the skill required to create this image. Red chalk is a naturally occurring pigment, and has been used by artists for centuries, prized for its soft, warm tone. Here, Witsen has used it to create a study of a nude female model. The grainy texture of the chalk allows the artist to build up tone and volume quickly, using hatching and smudging techniques. The economy of line and the subtle variations in tone suggest that Witsen was not merely interested in anatomical precision, but in capturing the essence of his subject. It is the immediacy and directness of the medium, the way it translates the artist’s touch onto paper, that truly brings the image to life. In its reliance on both traditional techniques and commercially available materials, this drawing encourages us to look beyond conventional definitions of fine art.