Nu Allonge 

Théophile Alexandre Steinlen sketched this nude figure with graphite, freezing her in time. Consider the pose itself, the reclining nude. It’s an ancient symbol of fertility and sensuality, stretching back to antiquity with goddesses like Venus. Note how the model reclines, one arm languidly resting, the other gently raised. This pose evokes the classical odalisque, yet it carries a different emotional charge. There's an intimacy here, a sense of quiet contemplation rather than overt sensuality. The act of reclining has appeared throughout art history. Think of Titian’s Venus of Urbino, or Manet’s Olympia, each presenting a unique iteration of the reclining form to convey different aspects of beauty. In Steinlen's version, the gesture is more subdued, perhaps reflecting a shift in societal attitudes towards nudity and representation. It invites us to contemplate the evolution of this enduring motif and the ways it continues to resonate with our collective memory.