Jackie 1947

Matisse drew Jackie with graphite on paper, giving us a glimpse into his process. It’s all about the line, isn’t it? Look at the way he defines her face with just a few strokes. See how the shading around her eyes creates depth, even though it’s so minimal. I love the texture of the graphite, how it catches the light. You can almost feel the softness of the paper. The lines are confident, but not overworked. There’s a freshness to it, like he captured her essence in one go. The mark-making around the hair is just beautiful, isn’t it? It reminds me a bit of some of Picasso’s drawings, in the way he simplifies form to its most essential elements. But Matisse, with his tender and expressive lines, remains distinctly his own.