Deux nus allongés 1925 - 1926

This is 'Deux nus allongés', two reclining nudes by Henri Matisse, done with ink on paper. Look at that sinuous line! For me, drawing is all about the back and forth of seeing and marking. I love how the bodies emerge from a simple arrangement of lines. Matisse plays with our perception, giving us just enough information to complete the figures in our minds. The marks are confident but the image is still light, not overworked. See how he layers lines on the lower figure to create tone and volume. This drawing reminds me a bit of Picasso, they were contemporaries who bounced ideas off each other. But Matisse's line is softer, more lyrical. Ultimately, art is a conversation, an ongoing exploration, a way of seeing that always leaves room for new perspectives.