Sovende kvinde (Alma Bloch) 1790 - 1890

Carl Bloch created this intimate drawing of a sleeping woman, Alma Bloch, with graphite on paper. The artist’s material is simple, but the effect is profound. The drawing emphasizes the directness of the artist's hand. You can almost see him making quick decisions and gestures with the pencil, translating his vision onto the page with minimal fuss. He’s carefully hatching the lines on the paper, capturing the soft curves of Alma’s face and the way her dress drapes around her body. Note how the light seems to caress her face, emphasized by the darker scribbled lines that give shape to the pillow. While Bloch would later become famous for his history paintings, this drawing reveals a more personal side of his practice. Here, the material and process create a sense of closeness. It blurs the boundaries between fine art and personal expression, reminding us of the power of simple materials to convey complex emotions and intimate moments.