Figure Drawing Series No. 11 1966

Frank Lobdell’s "Figure Drawing Series No. 11" is rendered on paper with graphite. The composition is dominated by a figure, sketched with dense, cross-hatched lines that give the form volume. The graphite marks vary in pressure, creating depth and shadow. Lobdell destabilizes traditional figure drawing through a structuralist approach. He reduces the figure to a series of lines, emphasizing the underlying structure over realistic representation. This abstraction moves the drawing away from mere likeness, transforming it into a study of form. The stark contrast between the heavy shading of the figure and the empty space surrounding it challenges conventional ideas of space and form. Lobdell focuses on the raw essence of the subject, inviting a reconsideration of how we perceive the human body, not as a fixed image, but as a fluid, evolving structure. This emphasis highlights a semiotic interplay, where the graphite lines serve as signs, open to interpretation.