Study for Figure of Autumn c. 1893

Elihu Vedder created this preparatory sketch, "Study for Figure of Autumn," to explore allegorical themes within the framework of late 19th-century American art. Vedder’s artistic journey was shaped by the cultural milieu of his time, a period marked by shifting social norms and a growing interest in symbolism. The sketch depicts a female figure, loosely draped, with her arms raised, perhaps in a gesture of offering or supplication. Vedder, like many of his contemporaries, looked to classical and Renaissance art for inspiration. His nude figures embodied idealized forms but also hinted at more complex emotional states. As you look closely, consider how the artist captures both the physical form and the suggestion of movement and emotion. Vedder's "Autumn" isn't just a representation of a season; it's an exploration of the feminine form in a historical moment of changing artistic expression.