Bela Czobel, Nude 

Bela Czobel sketched this nude drawing with graphite or charcoal, humble materials that have long been favored for their accessibility and immediacy. The artist coaxes a range of tonal values from the medium, from the delicate gray washes that define the planes of the figure’s body, to the dense, almost scribbled lines that indicate shadow and volume. Look closely at the way the strokes overlap and intersect, building up a sense of mass and contour through the repetition of simple marks. This technique reflects the artist’s engagement with expressionism, where the act of mark-making itself becomes a vehicle for conveying emotion and subjective experience. The visible labor in applying the medium becomes central to the aesthetic effect. This approach elevates the status of drawing, emphasizing its expressive potential alongside painting.