Two Female Nudes; Studies of Psyche for the Series of Paintings of Cupid and Psyche (Bavarian State Paintings Collections) 19th century

This pencil drawing by Wilhelm von Kaulbach, made in the 19th century, is a study for his paintings of Cupid and Psyche. Kaulbach, working in Germany, was a part of a broader European tradition of representing mythological and historical subjects. The drawing features two female nudes, studies of Psyche. In the upper figure, Psyche stands with her arms outstretched, while the lower figure is seated, her face partially obscured by her hands. The figures are idealized, embodying classical standards of beauty, yet they also reflect the 19th-century European fascination with the nude female form as an object of both aesthetic contemplation and male desire. As we consider the drawing and its purpose, we must acknowledge its place in the historical representation of women and reflect on the gazes, both artistic and societal, that have shaped these images. The drawing, a study for a grander narrative, invites us to ponder the stories we tell through art and the roles we assign to figures like Psyche.