Seated Nude c. 1940s

Franz Kline made this drawing, Seated Nude, using ink on paper. It might seem like a quick sketch, but the starkness of line is deceptive. Kline is famous for his large black and white paintings, made with housepainter's brushes, and this drawing suggests a similar approach. The economy of means – ink and paper, rather than canvas and oil – is important. Kline worked quickly, embracing the physical properties of his materials. The weight of the ink, the texture of the paper, the artist’s hand: all contribute to the drawing’s graphic quality. Kline’s work has been interpreted in many ways: some see references to urban architecture, while others see pure abstraction, and yet others see it as a very physical encounter between artist and surface. Thinking about materials and making helps us to see this drawing as more than just a sketch, but as a record of a dynamic process, somewhere between craft, design, and art.