Naakte vrouw c. 1870 - 1894

Gustave Joseph Chéret made this sketch of a nude woman with graphite on paper. The lines are tentative, as if feeling out the form, and there's an undeniable intimacy to the work that comes from its materiality. Graphite, of course, is nothing more than processed carbon, but it has a unique capacity to capture the artist's touch. You can see the speed and pressure with which Chéret moved his hand across the page in the varying line weights. The drawing is not overworked, but it captures a sense of the artist's direct engagement with his model. We can imagine him rapidly putting down the essence of what he sees, and almost feel like we are looking over his shoulder. Though seemingly simple, the sketch embodies a profound connection between hand, eye, and material. It reminds us that even the most ephemeral marks can carry great significance.