Standing nude, IV 1935

Zygmunt Waliszewski made this drawing of a standing nude, IV, on paper, with pencil. It’s all about the subtle layering of marks, where the artist builds form with delicate lines and tones. You can see how the process reveals the form of the model in stages. The texture of the paper peeks through the drawing, giving the surface a gentle, almost dreamy quality. The use of pencil creates a soft and intimate atmosphere. Look at the shading on her left leg, see how the darkness is applied with a light touch. This method of rendering the figure feels so human, so open to change, and reflects the artist’s process. Waliszewski was part of a community of Polish artists working in Paris in the early twentieth century, many of whom were exploring similar themes of intimacy and personal expression in their work. Like them, he seems less interested in depicting objective reality than capturing something more elusive.