Marmeren beeld van een vrouw in gewaad met een ontblote borst c. 1878 - 1881

Louis-Emile Durandelle captured this marble sculpture of a woman in a robe with an exposed breast in a photograph. The sculpture stands tall, enveloped in a flowing robe, its drapery cascading in gentle folds that define the form beneath. The stark contrast between light and shadow accentuates the curves of the marble, emphasizing its texture and volume. A lyre rests by her side, its delicate form in contrast with her solid figure, adding a sense of harmony and contemplation to the composition. The positioning of the figure and the subtle asymmetry create tension. Is the sculpture an aesthetic representation of idealized beauty? The partially exposed breast and the pensive gesture suggest a deeper questioning of social and aesthetic norms. In the realm of representation, this photograph allows us to consider how art destabilizes established meanings and engages with new ways of seeing and understanding the female form.