Woman Undressing 

Jean-Louis Forain made this pastel drawing of a "Woman Undressing," sometime in the late 19th or early 20th century. Forain was deeply embedded in the Parisian art scene, and much of his work reflected the underbelly of Parisian life. His depictions of women were frequently of those on the margins of society, such as prostitutes or dancers. In this image, the intimate act of undressing is portrayed with a delicate softness through the medium of pastel. Yet, there’s a tension here, as Forain’s choice of subject matter and the artistic techniques he employed place this work within a longer art historical tradition of male artists representing the female nude for the male gaze. One can’t help but consider whose perspective is prioritized, and whose is obscured. How does it feel to consider these historical depictions of women? What do we make of the legacy of this artistic framing?