Zwei nach links laufende Frauen 

Maurice Denis made this drawing of two women sometime in his career, using charcoal and chalk on paper. The toned paper provides a warm ground for the drawing, allowing the artist to create highlights and shadows with the white chalk and dark charcoal. The fluidity of the lines and the use of shading give the figures a sense of movement and depth. The composition is simple, with the figures placed against a neutral background, which helps to focus attention on their forms and gestures. Denis was associated with the Nabis, who were interested in exploring subjective states and spiritual experiences through art, and also blurred the boundaries between fine art and decoration. Drawings like this one were part of that project, as the artist used modest materials to explore the aesthetic and expressive potential of the human form, while imbuing the scene with symbolic meaning. The work invites us to consider the value of traditional techniques in conveying meaning, showing how a seemingly simple medium can result in a highly expressive work of art.