Standing Female Nude 1936

Charles William Smith made this "Standing Female Nude" with charcoal, and maybe a touch of sanguine, on paper. It's all about the process of drawing, really, and how Smith is feeling his way around this figure. Look at the repeated lines, building up the form, especially around the back and thighs. You can see the artist thinking, correcting, almost sculpting with charcoal. There's a real sense of weight and volume, even though it's just lines on paper. The texture of the charcoal, a little crumbly, a little smudgy, adds to the intimacy. It’s like seeing the ghost of the model through the artist's eyes. Smith reminds me a bit of Kathe Kollwitz, in the way he uses line and shadow to convey emotion. Both artists are masters of using simple materials to create powerful, expressive images. And like all great art, this drawing leaves room for our own interpretations and feelings. It’s an invitation to connect with the artist, the model, and ourselves.