Nude Figure 1837 - 1875

Alfred Stevens's "Nude Figure," rendered in sanguine on paper, presents a study in form and line. The recumbent figure, sketched with fluid strokes, dominates the composition, offering a contrast between detailed contours and areas left deliberately unfinished. Stevens captures the figure's volume and weight with remarkable economy. The sanguine medium lends a warmth to the skin, while the sketch-like quality reveals the artist's process, a glimpse into the construction of form. The composition is not merely representational; it’s an exploration of balance between what is shown and what is suggested, between the defined and the implied. Through line and form, Stevens invites a discourse on the body. This study engages with the tradition of academic drawing, yet departs from it by revealing the scaffolding of its making. It prompts us to consider how an artwork embodies not just an image but a process of thought and construction.