Study of Figures 1795 - 1867

Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres created this sketch called 'Study of Figures' sometime in the 19th century. Ingres, working in a time of political upheaval in France, sought order and beauty through the classical form. In this sketch, Ingres returns to the body as a central subject and displays his mastery of drawing and anatomy. During the 19th century, the nude was controversial. Some celebrated it as the height of artistic expression, while others saw it as a symbol of decadence. Ingres skirts this conflict by putting the nude in the service of classical idealism. His choice to focus on line, contour, and idealized forms over realistic representation distances his subjects from contemporary societal issues. By employing classical themes and forms, Ingres invites viewers to rise above the day-to-day struggles and the social issues of his era. In this way, the artwork expresses a longing for a universal and timeless aesthetic that transcends the tumultuous context of 19th-century France.