Study for "Planes by Colors, Large Nude" c. 1909

Curator: This is František Kupka’s charcoal drawing, "Study for 'Planes by Colors, Large Nude'," currently residing here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: What a mood! It feels like a melancholic dream, the woman is lost in thought. Curator: Kupka was intensely interested in how art could reflect inner states, and this study offers insight into his exploration of the nude form as a vehicle for emotional expression. The work asks us to consider the historical legacy of objectification within the art world. Editor: There’s a vulnerability, sure, but also a strength in her pose. It's like she owns the space she's in, even in her contemplation. It makes you wonder what she's thinking. Curator: Absolutely. And considering Kupka's later shift towards abstraction, this piece hints at a move away from traditional representation. The nude becomes a framework for exploring the interplay of light and shadow. Editor: It's got me wondering about my own relationship with vulnerability. It’s a powerful and quiet piece.