Naakte vrouw geeft bloemen water met twee kruiken c. 1851

Auguste Charles Lemoine made this lithograph of a nude woman watering flowers sometime in the mid-19th century. The image, rendered in shades of gray, depicts a woman in classical garb pouring water from two jugs onto flowering plants. Given the historical context, the image raises interesting questions about the role of the female nude in art. In 19th century France, the naked female form was a popular subject in academic painting, often associated with ideas of beauty, purity, and nature. It was a male-dominated art world, with institutions such as the École des Beaux-Arts playing a key role in defining artistic standards and taste. Lemoine would have been subjected to this. Further research into the archives of art institutions and exhibition records from this time can provide insight into how artworks like this were received and understood, and the social and institutional conditions that shaped their creation.