Liegender weiblicher Akt mit geschlossenen Augen c. 1912

Alexej von Jawlensky made this reclining nude using black ink on blue paper. It's a study in contrasts, right? How the stark black lines define the soft curves of the body, creating a tension that's really engaging. The texture here is all in the application, with delicate lines contrasting with blocks of solid black. Check out how the marks around the figure create both a sense of depth, and also flatten out the space. The ink almost seems to float on the surface. Note the hatching around the head and torso, and how the marks mimic the curve of the body. Jawlensky, like Matisse, whom he knew, was deeply interested in the relationship between line, form, and color. The simplicity of this piece is quite deceptive, when you consider the ideas at play, and the space it opens for our imaginations.