Nude with Her Hands Raised c. 1928 - 1934

Gaston Lachaise made this drawing of a nude woman with raised hands, and it looks like he used a simple pencil or fine liner to create it. There’s something so direct about the confidence of the line, right? It fearlessly carves out the space around this body. It’s like Lachaise isn't just drawing what he sees, but what he *feels* about the figure. Check out how he renders the curves of her hips and breasts with this continuous, almost unbroken line. There's a sensuality to it, a real embrace of the body's volume. The lines aren't fussy or overly detailed; they’re economical, almost like he’s trying to capture the essence of her form with as few strokes as possible. This piece reminds me of Matisse’s line drawings. Both artists share a similar approach to distilling the human form down to its most essential elements. Like Matisse, Lachaise is interested in conveying a sense of movement and energy through a simple line. There’s no erasing or second-guessing, just a pure, unadulterated expression of form. It’s honest.