Seventh Eclogue: Galatea Whiter than Swan down (Galatee jouant dans l'eau) Possibly 1926

This red chalk drawing on paper gives you a sense of Maillol's love of classical sculpture. You see Galatea playing in the water. The lines are firm and rounded, giving form to both her body and the waves she seems to float on. I imagine Maillol felt the weight of her body as he drew, even though it's just a simple contour. And maybe he thought about Ingres, who also loved a smooth line, but whose figures always felt a little too perfect to me. Maillol is looser, more real. His Galatea isn't a goddess, but a woman enjoying the sea. It makes me think about how artists are always looking back. They take something from the past but rework it through their own hands. The conversation between artists keeps the whole thing alive. We pass on our struggles and our joys, each one leaving a personal mark.