Weiblicher Akt der Julia aus _Romeo und Julia_ c. 1869 - 1871

Victor Müller made this nude study of Julia from Romeo and Juliet, presumably in the mid-19th century. It exists in a time when academic traditions intertwined with emerging notions of romanticism, influencing how the female form was perceived and portrayed. This artwork depicts a nude female figure, identified as Julia, whose character has been immortalized through Shakespeare’s tragedy. This sketch invites us to consider how women were represented in art and literature during the 19th century. We see Julia not as a character of agency, but as an objectified figure, her identity reduced to a symbol of idealized beauty. The female form is presented as a passive object for contemplation, devoid of agency, with her gaze directed upwards, perhaps indicative of her aspirations or fate. Ultimately, this drawing becomes an evocative reflection on the interplay between art, gender, and cultural narratives, inviting us to contemplate the stories we tell and the ways in which we represent ourselves and others.