Marie Jordan Nude, Seen from the Back c. 1889

This is a photograph by George Hendrik Breitner titled *Marie Jordan Nude, Seen from the Back*. The sepia tones and intimate setting create a feeling of voyeuristic privacy, enhanced by the composition which obscures parts of the scene. The main subject, Marie Jordan, is captured from behind, her figure softly lit against the brighter background of a window. Breitner uses the camera to explore the human form, but also the interplay of light and shadow. The photograph's structure invites us to consider the gaze, and the power dynamics inherent in the act of viewing. We are positioned as unseen observers, implicated in the scene. The composition disrupts traditional representations of the nude by emphasizing realism over idealization. The choice of a domestic setting and the unposed figure challenge established norms. Breitner's photograph, therefore, engages with broader cultural questions about the body, representation, and the changing landscape of art in the late 19th century.