Standing Female Nude 1908

Thomas Eakins painted this nude, with oils I imagine, and it's kind of a masterclass in the magic of brown. The model emerges out of the darkness with loose brushstrokes, standing there vulnerable. It feels like Eakins is asking, "How much information do I need to give you to make you understand form?" He's playing with what is revealed and concealed. The whole thing is built up with these careful strokes, but they have a casual feel. It’s about light, shadow and volume - a world made up of tonal variation, not line. You can sense him building the form up, layer by layer. It reminds me of Velázquez, or maybe Manet - you can see the history of painting in this painting, the conversation between artists across time. We all borrow, steal, and get inspired by each other. It shows how an artist keeps exploring and reinventing traditions to discover something unique.