Drafts for metal relief 1904

Koloman Moser made this design for a metal relief, with ink on paper. For me, this piece feels like a set of instructions, or a diagram, more than a finished work. And that's something I can really relate to as a painter myself! The line here is so controlled, and economical. The way that the dress hangs, with these flowing, curved lines, is so elegant. It gives the sense of movement, and lightness of touch, whilst the squares, off to the left, add a touch of grounding. There's a kind of incompleteness to this, which is really appealing. It allows your mind to fill in the gaps, to imagine the finished relief in metal, and how the light would play across the surface. You can see the influence of Klimt here, with the emphasis on ornamentation and the stylised female form. It’s a great example of art as an ongoing conversation.