Seated Nude 1918

This is Modigliani's 'Seated Nude', probably made with a pencil on paper sometime in the early 20th century. The lines are so simple, so economical. It's like he's trying to capture the essence of the figure with as few marks as possible, a really lovely demonstration of the idea that less is more. The texture of the paper is visible beneath the lines, it gives the drawing a kind of warmth. The way the lines flow, they create a sense of movement and rhythm. Look at the way the line curves around the figure's thigh, it has a real sensuality to it. Even the stray mark at the top left adds to the feeling of it being a study, like he was trying to work something out. Modigliani often returned to the nude figure in his paintings and sculptures, but you can also see echoes of his pared-down style in the work of someone like Matisse. Ultimately it reminds us that art is a conversation, a constant process of reinterpreting and reimagining the world around us.