Standing Female Nude 1904

Anders Zorn created this pencil drawing, "Standing Female Nude," in 1904. Zorn was a prominent Swedish painter and printmaker, working during a time when the female nude was a common subject in academic art. Here, Zorn captures the figure with quick, fluid lines. It's as if we're catching a private glimpse, an intimate moment. Yet, we must ask: whose gaze are we invited to share? How does the artist's perspective—a male artist at the turn of the century—shape our understanding of this female form? The woman's pose, with her arms modestly covering her chest, adds a layer of complexity. Is she protecting herself, or is this gesture part of a carefully constructed image designed to titillate? Zorn's work often reflects a tension between traditional representations and a more modern, individual expression. This drawing invites us to reflect on the power dynamics inherent in the act of looking and the ways in which artists can both perpetuate and challenge societal norms.