To stående modeller 1914 - 1915

Karl Isakson made this drawing of two standing models with a pencil, at an unknown date. There’s something immediate and intimate in the way Isakson describes these figures with such a sparse and vulnerable set of lines. Look at the surface: there is no attempt to obscure the process. The graphite is raw, exposed. We can see the texture of the paper, and it feels as if the artist wanted us to witness each stroke. It reminds me of the quick sketches I do in my own studio before embarking on a painting, those moments when you are just trying to get to grips with the subject, the act of looking and making a mark. Notice the way the artist draws the model’s legs on the right. The lines are built up and repeated to add weight, but also to indicate the movement of the model. It feels as though we can see the history of the artist's gaze. Isakson's drawing reminds me of the pared-down figuration you sometimes find in late Cezanne. This piece is a testament to the power of reduction and the beauty that can be found in simplicity.