Liegender weiblicher Akt mit geschlossenen Augen c. 1912

Alexej von Jawlensky made this simple but evocative ink drawing of a reclining nude with closed eyes. It's laid down on a cool blue ground. I can imagine him working quickly, using ink to capture the essence of the figure with just a few confident strokes. Notice how the heavy, dark lines define the contours of the body, while shorter, sketchier marks create a sense of texture and depth. Those marks might suggest the surface on which the figure is resting. It’s economical, right? The closed eyes give the figure an introspective, almost dreamy quality. What was Jawlensky thinking about when he made this? Was he interested in the physicality of the body or the psychological state of his model? The great thing about painting is that it's not fixed. It embraces ambiguity, and we can have many different readings over time. What do *you* think?