Femme Nu Assise 1914

Théophile Alexandre Steinlen created this nude drawing, "Femme Nu Assise", with crayon on paper. It's a sketch, almost a whisper of a figure, rendered in pale, earthy tones. The approach feels so immediate, like Steinlen was chasing after a fleeting impression. You can sense the hand of the artist moving quickly, trying to capture the essence of the pose. The texture is fascinating; you can almost feel the grain of the paper beneath the crayon. It’s not about perfection, but about process – the give and take between the artist and the medium. Look at the way the lines fade in and out, how the shadows are suggested rather than defined. The right knee is just a few strokes. How much information is contained in so little! It reminds me of Degas' pastels, that same interest in capturing the body in motion, that same sense of intimacy and immediacy. But Steinlen’s approach feels rawer, less polished. Ultimately, it’s about embracing the beauty of imperfection, the magic of the unfinished.