Standing Figure 1913

Elemér de Kóródy made this drawing called *Standing Figure*, in Paris, using ink on paper. The beauty of a drawing like this lies in its immediacy. The artist has captured a figure, but with so few lines! It’s all about what is suggested, not defined. Look at how the lines vary in thickness, some confident and bold, others tentative and light. It's like watching the artist think through the form, each line a decision, a question, an answer. I’m drawn to the hatching on the figures lower half. It gives a sense of volume without resorting to shading. Each stroke feels energetic, capturing the essence of a standing figure with incredible economy. It reminds me a little of Picasso’s line drawings, that same ability to distill form to its purest expression. It’s a reminder that art doesn’t always need to be complicated or laboured over. Sometimes, the simplest gestures are the most powerful.