Volupté 

Antonio de La Gándara created this pastel drawing, "Volupté," during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a time when artistic expression grappled with evolving social norms. Gándara, positioned within the Parisian art scene, captured the spirit of his era, yet he dared to explore beyond conventional boundaries. His life as a openly gay man influenced his work, and his art gave him the agency to address his own complex lived experience and explore new realms of representation. In "Volupté," the reclining nude embodies both vulnerability and strength. Through his delicate use of pastel, Gándara challenges the traditional male gaze, inviting viewers to contemplate the multifaceted nature of human experience. The subject’s gaze is averted; she is lost in a moment of reverie. This intimacy allows for an alternative reading of the female form. Gándara's exploration of the emotional and personal dimensions of his subjects allows us to question societal norms and the boundaries of identity.