Left border woman 1913

Ferdinand Hodler made this drawing of a woman, location and date unknown, using graphite on paper. You can really see the process here, right? The artist is searching for the form, not trying to be too precious. There's a lovely vulnerability in the marks, a confident and sketchy contour creating the feeling of a figure in motion, or maybe caught between poses. The hands are just suggested, like wisps of smoke. Look at the way the graphite gathers and pools in certain areas, creating darker accents and shadows. It reminds me of charcoal drawings by Käthe Kollwitz, where the expressive potential of the medium is fully embraced. It's like Hodler is having a conversation with the paper, and we get to eavesdrop. Ultimately, this piece leaves space for our imagination to wander, to fill in the gaps and make our own connections, and that's what keeps us coming back for another look.