Reclining model 1923

Pyotr Konchalovsky drew this reclining model with what looks like charcoal, maybe even a Conté crayon. The marks aren’t overworked, but they do create a really striking effect. I like to think about the ways charcoal can be so physical. You can really dig into the paper with it, or you can keep it light and airy, almost like a breath. Look at the way Konchalovsky uses these simple lines to define the volumes of the body, creating a sense of depth and weight with such a minimal approach. The hatching marks on the model's chest give way to softer, smudged lines around her arm. This piece reminds me of some of Matisse’s drawings, where he’s just feeling out the form with a few strokes. There’s a kind of art-historical conversation going on here, a lineage of artists grappling with the human form in their own unique ways. It’s not about perfect representation, but about capturing something essential.