Two Women c. 1930s

Leon Kroll made this drawing, called Two Women, probably with charcoal, judging by its tonal range. I love the intimacy, like we’re peeking into a private world. Maybe Kroll was exploring the relationship between these figures, or perhaps it's more about form, light, and shadow, and the different states of being. Look at the woman reclining; her form is soft, relaxed and yielding. Then notice the other figure is alert and upright. The draped robe adds an element of mystery. What is she thinking? What is their relationship? I always wonder with drawings like this, did the artist work from life, or memory, or a combination of both? Either way, he’s tapping into something timeless about the human form and our connections with each other. Artists are always looking, borrowing, stealing, riffing off of each other, across time, and it’s inspiring to see how these conversations unfold. Each mark, each gesture, is part of that ongoing dialogue.