Study for Cupid and Psyche 1783 - 1784

Pierre-Paul Prud’hon made this drawing, Study for Cupid and Psyche, with black and white chalk. The nude female figure dominates our field of vision, her posture and the stark monochromatic palette evoking a sense of classical sculpture brought to life on paper. The composition, with its emphasis on the human form, aligns with a broader cultural interest in Neoclassicism, a return to the aesthetic values of ancient Greece and Rome. Prud’hon’s approach is unique, however, and offers a nuanced perspective on the idealised body. Note how the soft, diffused light gently contours Psyche’s figure, creating a subtle play of shadows that softens the harsh lines. This technique, remiscent of Leonardo da Vinci's sfumato, allows the artist to model form and imbue the figure with an intimate sensuality. Consider, too, how this choice in form destabilises the formal representation of the female nude, challenging fixed notions of beauty. It is through these visual nuances that Prud’hon elevates a classical subject to a realm of ethereal beauty.