Little Aurore (Petite Aurore) 1923

Henri Matisse created ‘Little Aurore’ using pencil on paper. You can see how the pencil strokes build up to create soft shadows. It feels like a quick sketch, but there's real confidence in the way he's captured the figure's form. I wonder what it was like for Matisse, sitting there, charcoal in hand, observing his model. Was it quiet, or did they chat? Did he labour over it or did it flow? He probably made loads of marks and rubbed them out again. That cross-hatching on the cushion communicates form and shape. It reminds me that drawing is all about mark-making, about building something up from nothing. It’s like a conversation between the artist and the paper. Matisse has clearly looked at other artists - you can see the influence of the old masters in his work, but he brings something totally fresh to it.