Nude Woman Seated 1919

This is Augustus John's "Nude Woman Seated", made with etching. The mark-making here is all about line, hatched and cross-hatched, to build up tone and volume, and it’s interesting to see how he uses the process to define the figure, letting the process be visible. The etched lines give the image a tactile feel, like you could reach out and trace the contours of the woman's body. See how the light catches her shoulder, the way the lines are denser there, creating a sense of depth? Then, notice how the lines become lighter and more sparse as they move down her arm, suggesting the gradual fall of light and shadow. It's a really beautiful effect. John seems to be in dialogue with artists like Rembrandt, who also used etching to explore the nuances of the human form. Both artists share an interest in capturing the subtleties of light and shadow. There's a freedom in the way the lines dance across the surface. The process is very ambiguous, and that’s what’s exciting here.