Recumbent Female Nude and Partial Study of a Second Female Figure c. 1855 - 1860

Thomas Couture made this drawing of a recumbent female nude from graphite on paper. The grid on the paper suggests a transfer process, a mechanical means of enlarging or replicating an image. This would have been essential for the creation of large-scale paintings. The artist’s hand is evident in the soft rendering of the model's body, built up through layers of delicate lines and smudges. The graphite is applied with varying pressure, creating a subtle play of light and shadow that accentuates the curves of the figure. We might consider that the grid emphasizes industrial advancements in drawing and design, a counterpoint to the artist’s skill and labor in its creation. The drawing's incompleteness invites us to contemplate the relationship between process and product. It’s a reminder that the concept of the finished masterpiece masks the many steps involved in its creation, and the labor that underpins any artwork.