To stående modeller 1914 - 1915

Karl Isakson created this sketch of two standing models with pencil on paper. The symbol of the embrace is one of the most enduring motifs in art, a testament to human connection, longing, and empathy. Here, the figures stand closely together, their bodies a simple contour, one arm slung over the shoulder of the other. This gesture echoes countless depictions of affection throughout art history. From ancient Egyptian funerary art, where embraces symbolized eternal connection, to Klimt's gilded lovers, we see the embrace as a signifier of deep emotional bonds. Yet, the embrace is not always tender; consider the tortured embrace of Dante and Virgil in the Inferno, representing guidance through suffering. In Isakson's sketch, the embrace hints at an underlying psychological depth. Is it comfort, support, or something more complex? Like a recurring dream, the embrace resurfaces across time and cultures, each time colored by new experiences. What we see here is not merely an act but a powerful and cyclical expression of human feeling.