Vrouwelijk naakt, op de rug gezien 1871 - 1944

Aristide Maillol made this drawing of a nude figure, seen from the back, with what looks like graphite on paper. It's an image built up from so many tiny marks, a real testament to the power of process. The texture here is something else. It's like the paper itself is breathing, with a velvety surface created by the buildup of graphite. Maillol uses a range of marks, from soft, smudged lines to more defined strokes, giving the figure a real sense of volume and weight. Look at the way the light catches her back, and how the shadow defines the curve of her hip. It's subtle, but so effective. I'm reminded of Rodin, another artist who was interested in the human form and how to capture it in all its messy, imperfect glory. But where Rodin was all about drama and movement, Maillol feels more grounded, more interested in the quiet beauty of the everyday. It's a conversation, a back-and-forth between artists across time, each one building on what came before. Art is always an interpretation; it's never fixed.