Bathing Venus 

Pierre-Paul Prud'hon made this chalk drawing of a "Bathing Venus" in France during a period of profound social upheaval. The image presents a nude female, an allusion to classical art. The cultural context of the French Revolution and the subsequent rise of Napoleon shaped the production and reception of art during Prud'hon's time. The visual codes harken back to the art of antiquity, but the loose handling and soft sfumato reflect the shifting artistic tastes of the period. The drawing departs from the rigid neoclassicism that was favored by the French Academy, which controlled artistic production and promoted a conservative aesthetic. Prud'hon's sensual style provided an alternative to the strictures of academic art and allowed for a more expressive and intimate approach to the human figure. Art historians study official records and private correspondence to uncover the network of artistic patronage and critical debates that framed Prud'hon's career.