Stående model, set bagfra 1914 - 1915

Karl Isakson made this sketch, Stående model, set bagfra, with what looks like a soft pencil on paper. What gets me is the simplicity, right? I mean, look how Isakson uses these spare lines to suggest the weight and form of the figure. It's all about suggestion, not description. The texture of the pencil mark is so present, you can almost feel the artist's hand moving across the page. Notice that one, slightly darker stroke that defines the curve of the back - it's like a secret key that unlocks the whole composition. You get a real sense of him grappling with the essentials, of trying to capture the essence of the figure with as little as possible. This feels like a conversation with someone like Matisse, who was also obsessed with line and form. It’s that endless conversation between artists over time, where a single line can carry so much weight.