Naakte vrouw 1903 - 1920

Henk Schilling made this drawing, ‘Naakte vrouw’, using ink on paper. It's interesting how Schilling uses a limited palette to create such depth. The stark contrast between the solid black ink and the delicate shading of the figure feels almost sculptural. Look at the way he’s rendered her abdomen, using contouring lines to suggest form and volume. The entire drawing has this sense of flowing lines and curves, from the figure's cascading hair to the swirling patterns surrounding her. The ink itself seems to have a life of its own, pooling and bleeding into the paper in certain areas. It’s like the image emerged from a process, a kind of meditation on form and line. It reminds me of the work of Gustav Klimt, in its sinuous lines and symbolic imagery, but Schilling brings his own unique vision to the work. This is a piece that invites us to slow down, to contemplate the beauty and mystery of the human form and the world around us.