Kniender weiblicher Akt in Vorderansicht c. 1935

Georg Kolbe made this drawing of a kneeling nude figure with charcoal on paper. There’s an immediacy to charcoal drawings that I find really appealing, you can get such a range of marks from the softest smudges to these sharp, definite lines. Look at the way Kolbe has used the charcoal to suggest the form of the body, especially around the torso and thighs. See how the shading isn't about replicating reality but about suggesting a volume and weight, a kind of presence. The texture of the paper is integral to the effect, it’s not concealed. The drawing feels direct, it’s like you’re witnessing the artist’s thought process, the marks of charcoal are very visible. There’s a connection with Rodin here, not just in the subject matter, but in the way the drawing captures the energy and movement of the body. It's like a conversation across time. The drawing is more about exploring possibilities than making statements.