Froanna Reading 1936

Wyndham Lewis made this line drawing of Froanna reading, probably in ink, in 1936. What hits me first is the economy of line, like a poem that gets straight to the point. Look at the loop of hair near her ear, how that single stroke becomes both form and shadow. There’s a lightness here, but also a structural clarity, a kind of visual thinking out loud. The lines aren't precious, but rather searching, revealing the process of seeing and describing. It reminds me a little of Matisse's drawings, that same confidence and simplicity. It also feels like fashion illustration, but with an edge, hinting at the character beneath the surface. Like a conversation, this piece is both unfinished and complete, inviting us to fill in the gaps and imagine the rest.