Reclining Nude (The Painter and his Model) 1935

Matisse made this line drawing, ‘Reclining Nude’, which shows the painter and his model, using ink on paper. It's all about the line, isn’t it? I can see Matisse’s focus was on capturing the essence of form and space with such economy. Imagine him, maybe in a sun-drenched room, rapidly sketching. You can almost see the ink flowing from his pen as he captures the scene. He had such confidence! He must be thinking about flattening and distorting while keeping this energy, this vibrancy. The composition creates a layered effect, almost dreamlike. I wonder if he considered the relationship between the artist and the model. They both are present, but somehow disconnected. There's a sense of intimacy, but also distance. It reminds me a bit of Picasso's approach to form, but Matisse is softer, less angular. Maybe they were in contact, exchanging ideas. Ultimately, I see this drawing as an exploration of seeing, thinking, and feeling.