Weibliche Aktstudie, stehend 

This standing nude was drawn by Pierre Puvis de Chavannes using graphite on paper. Look closely, and you can see the grid of horizontal and vertical lines. This is the first clue that we're seeing part of a process. The grid would have been used to transfer the composition from another source, probably a smaller sketch. Notice, too, how the artist has represented his figures several times. This is another indication of artistic labour, the working through of an idea. Puvis de Chavannes was working at a time when painting was becoming increasingly industrialised. The rise of ready-made paints, for example, changed the relationship between artists and their materials. But here, we see an artist emphasizing the manual aspect of his practice. Ultimately, recognizing the vital role of materials, making, and the broader context is essential to unlocking the complete meaning of this artwork. It challenges the conventional boundaries that separate fine art from craft.