Seated Female Nude c. 1915 - 1920

Here we see a Seated Female Nude, a sketch made by Willem Witsen. The reclining nude, a motif that stretches back to antiquity, carries layers of cultural and artistic meaning. In ancient Greek and Roman art, the nude form represented idealized beauty and divine status, often associated with goddesses like Venus. This posture symbolizes not just beauty but also vulnerability and accessibility, inviting the viewer to contemplate the human form and the intimate experience of the body. The motif of the reclining nude, which has roots in classical antiquity, frequently resurfaces in Renaissance paintings, in works by artists such as Titian and Giorgione. This sketch engages with a tradition that extends across centuries, and it is an echo of how we, as humans, engage with the body and our subconscious. By drawing on classical ideals and reinterpreting them through a modern lens, artists continue to explore the enduring power and allure of the human form.