Stående nøgen kvinde, vendt mod højre 1949

Vilhelm Lundstrom made this drawing of a standing nude woman sometime in the first half of the 20th century. It is made with graphite on paper and you can see it at the SMK in Copenhagen. There's an urgency and confidence in Lundstrom's line. Look how he defines the form with just a few strokes, leaving so much unsaid. On the left side of the body, a single, bold line describes the arm and bust, while on the right, the form dissolves into a mass of scribbled shading. This contrast creates a dynamic tension, as if the figure is both solid and ephemeral, present and disappearing. For me, it’s a reminder that drawing, like life, is an act of constant negotiation. There’s an openness that feels very modern, as if the artist is inviting us to complete the picture, to bring our own experiences and perspectives to the work. It’s a bit like Matisse and his line drawings, always hinting, suggesting, but never fully resolving.