Vrouwelijk naakt c. 1892 - 1923

This is a quick sketch of a female nude, made with pencil on paper by George Hendrik Breitner. Look at how the body is outlined with these bold, almost clumsy marks. It's not about perfection, but about catching a fleeting impression, like a visual note jotted down in a hurry. I’m drawn to the physicality of the marks here. The lines are thick and dark in places, then fading and barely-there in others, giving the drawing a real sense of depth and energy. The artist uses these simple lines to suggest so much – the weight of the body, the curve of a hip, the angle of a limb. There's a real economy to it. Check out the hair at the base of the drawing, these gestural marks are shorthand for curls. Breitner, like Degas, was interested in capturing everyday life, and there’s a realness to this drawing that feels modern even now. You can imagine him quickly capturing a moment, not worrying about being too precious or perfect. It’s a reminder that art can be about process, about seeing and feeling, as much as it is about the finished product.