Rear View of Female Figure in Action 1904

Auguste Rodin made this drawing of a female figure in action, and the lack of specific detail is part of the charm. The thin, washy color almost feels like a watercolor accident, staining the paper with a blush. Looking closely, there’s a real tension between the delicacy of the line and the splotchy skin tones. See how the smattering of brown pigment clusters around the spine and thighs, almost like a topographical map of the body? This play of chance and control is classic Rodin, a master of capturing movement and emotion in the most economical way. It reminds me of Cy Twombly’s drawings, where the line is both tentative and confident, a record of the artist’s hand in dialogue with the subject. With Rodin, it's all about the process, the feeling of the moment, rather than some kind of perfect, polished product.