Dix Danseuses II 1925 - 1926

Henri Matisse drew "Dix Danseuses II" on a sheet, using graphite. He wasn't afraid of showing how the thing was made. The drawing has a real sense of the dancer relaxing, caught in a moment of pause mid rehearsal. You can see Matisse figuring things out. The marks around the stool, for instance, are tentative and searching. There’s a lovely contrast between the light hatching of the dancer’s skirt and the firmer lines used to define the stool she sits on. There's a freedom in the way that Matisse approaches the page, with a confidence that reminds me of Guston's late drawings. Both invite us to be part of a visual conversation, where art is always provisional, open, and in process.