Figurkomposition II 1912

J.A. Jerichau (II) made this drawing, Figurkomposition II, with ink on paper. Look at the way he's so economical with his marks, each line is doing so much work. It reminds me of how, in artmaking, it's about finding the most efficient way to express an idea. The lines here aren't precious; they’re exploratory. I love how the figures emerge from the paper with such simple means. There's a real sense of movement, of bodies in space. You can almost feel the artist working quickly, trying to capture a fleeting moment. The different weights of the lines, some darker and more defined, others lighter and more tentative, create a sense of depth and volume. It has a similar feel to some of Matisse’s line drawings, where he could convey so much with so little. This piece reminds us that art is a conversation across time, an ongoing exchange of ideas and approaches.