Study for "Greek Girls Bathing" c. 1872

Elihu Vedder's "Study for "Greek Girls Bathing"" is a delicate charcoal drawing from c. 1872. This preparatory study shows a single female figure in a flowing robe, seated with her head downcast. Executed on a pale purple paper, the artist’s use of light and shadow creates a sense of volume and depth, emphasizing the figure's graceful pose and the soft folds of her drapery. This study is a glimpse into Vedder's artistic process, revealing his meticulous approach to capturing the human form and its relationship to the surrounding space.