Perfectly Imperfect

Edgar Degas (French, 1834–1917). Woman Seated in an Armchair Wiping Her Neck, modeled probably before 1902, cast 1920. French. Bronze; 12 3/4 x 12 1/4 x 10 1/2 in. (32.4 x 31.1 x 26.7 cm). The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, H.O. Havemeyer Collection, Bequest of Mrs. H.O. Havemeyer, 1929 (29.100.412)

«I find one-minute gesture, or figure, drawings very challenging. My desire to create an intriguing composition makes capturing the model's gesture in such a short period of time even harder. Normally, I look to the Met's collection for inspiration when I find myself confronted by an artistic problem, but, in this case, I thought: "How many one-minute gesture drawings are actually on display in a museum full of meticulously constructed masterpieces?"»

Then, on a recent class field trip to the Met, I was directed to gallery 814, where fifty-six of Edgar Degas's bronze sculptures—originally created with wax, and then cast in bronze—totally changed my perspective on gesture drawing. I quickly realized that I had been looking in the wrong places, and I found that, contrary to my original thought, the techniques used in gesture drawing are not exclusive to drawing—they can also be seen in sculpture.

One of Brooke's abstract gesture drawings inspired by Edgar Degas's sculptures. Image courtesy of the author

As an artist, I used to worry about the unfinished quality associated with gesture drawing, but after seeing how Degas embraced this quality in his work, I realized that it creates a beautiful aesthetic and gives the artwork some personality. Similarly, I would obsess over anatomical precision in my gesture drawings, but I saw that allowing the work to be more abstract personalizes the subject. Degas's sculptures helped me understand that, while creating a realistic depiction of the subject may not be not possible under the time constraints of gesture drawing, it is possible to create something abstract.

Another one of Brooke's gesture drawings after she embraced the idea of creating something that was less realistic and more abstract. Image courtesy of the author

Feeling bold and empowered by Degas, I created a few one-minute gesture drawings, featured above, and not only were they more fun to create, but I also received a lot of positive feedback during critique. I definitely recommend a visit to the gallery.

Would you like to try your hand at gesture drawing? It is one of the many activities offered during Teens Take the Met! Join the fun on Friday, June 5, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m.