Portrait Sketch: Seated Woman with Beads c. 1923

Curator: Wyndham Lewis, of the Vorticists, sketched this Seated Woman with Beads. It is undated, rendered on a support measuring 381 by 330 millimeters, and is now held in the Tate Collections. Editor: The first impression is stark. The composition’s bareness is quite striking, particularly the unfinished lines. Curator: Lewis was always interested in portraying modern figures with angularity. This sketch is a testament to how he wanted to break with the past. Editor: Yes, the simplification of form, the emphasis on line…it speaks to a proto-modern sensibility stripping away excess detail for core structure. Curator: The beads might suggest something about social class, and the pose indicates a sense of confident self-possession. Editor: The figure stares right through you! It's intriguing how Lewis managed to evoke presence with so few lines. Curator: Lewis always challenged convention. This study provides a glimpse into his artistic process. Editor: Absolutely. A fascinating look at the foundational elements of portraiture.