Studie af sort, kvindelig model (Miarka) 1912 - 1916

Othon Friesz made this study of a Black, female model, Miarka, on paper using pencil. Look at the raw energy in those lines, the way they capture form not with precision, but with a kind of searching, like he’s feeling his way around the contours of her body. It’s all about the physical presence of the charcoal, isn't it? Thick, dark strokes that define the shadows, then delicate, almost hesitant lines that suggest the lighter areas. See how he builds up the form with these layers, creating a sense of depth and volume that’s both powerful and intimate? The marks around her left arm seem to echo the marks on her upper chest – a kind of formal rhyming that pulls the whole composition together. Friesz’s approach reminds me of Matisse, especially his drawings from the same period. Both artists share this commitment to the expressive power of line. It’s a reminder that art is always a conversation, a dialogue between artists across time and space.