Wie vorläufig mein Tenniskostüm aussieht (Original Title) 1907

This drawing by Rudolf Gudden, shows a figure in motion rendered in pencil on paper. The sketch captures a fleeting moment with an economy of means. Gudden uses the inherent qualities of the graphite to suggest form, texture, and movement. The roughness of the pencil strokes and visible erasures add to the immediacy of the work, giving us insight into the artist’s process. The work is a kind of visual shorthand, using a readily available technology. Pencil and paper are ubiquitous, inexpensive and democratic. Here, the drawing might be seen in relation to a wider culture of amateur creativity and leisure. The quick and informal nature of the drawing challenges the traditional hierarchy that favors refined and polished artworks. Ultimately, the artist prompts us to consider the value of informal making and its relationship to artistic expression.