Lovers 1933

Beatrice Wood's drawing, Lovers, is made using graphite on paper. The line work is so interesting here, because it's not just about describing what's there, it's about creating a feeling of intimacy. It reminds me of Picasso, but softer, you know? Wood uses these flowing lines to suggest forms, playing with positive and negative space, so the figures seem to emerge organically from the paper. It's like she's feeling her way through the subject, letting the graphite lead the way. The shading around the bodies, the way it defines the curve of a shoulder or the clasp of hands, is really tender. Look at the area where the faces meet. The lines become almost abstract, dissolving into each other, hinting at a merging of identities, of souls, maybe? It is like the lovers are becoming one. Wood was friends with Duchamp, and I can see some of his playful spirit here, that lightness of touch that makes you think and feel at the same time. It's like she's saying, "Here's a glimpse, now you fill in the rest."