Bela Czobel, Nude Sitting 1930 

Bela Czobel sketched "Nude Sitting" around 1930, capturing a seated figure in graphite. Czobel, a Hungarian-French artist, lived through two world wars and significant political upheaval in Europe, an era marked by shifting ideas about the body. In this drawing, the nude is presented without idealization; the lines are tentative, raw, and capture the sitter with an intimate, unvarnished gaze. The woman's posture, with her head bowed, suggests a moment of introspection or vulnerability, inviting empathy rather than objectification. Consider that, in the early 20th century, the female nude had become a traditional subject, yet Czobel avoids the male gaze. The artist treats his model with a kind of dignity. The sketch invites us to consider the model's experience of being observed, offering a nuanced representation that respects her humanity.