Zittende Bacchante c. 1906

Fantin-Latour made this drawing of a seated bacchante on paper sometime in the 19th century. See how the quick, energetic marks create a sense of movement and life? You can almost feel the artist working through his ideas, figuring things out as he goes. The whole drawing has a light, airy quality, doesn't it? The soft gray tones of the graphite create a dreamy atmosphere, like a memory or a fleeting impression. The way Fantin-Latour uses shading to suggest the form of the figure is so subtle and delicate. Look at the lines around her leg. It’s not about precision, but about capturing the essence of the subject. The marks dance around each other. Think about Degas and his drawings of dancers, or even some of the looser, more expressive figure studies by Delacroix. There’s a sense of freedom and experimentation in Fantin-Latour’s work that feels very contemporary. For me this piece shows how art can be an ongoing conversation.