Female Nude with Draperies c. 20th century

Curator: Let's turn our attention to Gaston Lachaise's line drawing, "Female Nude with Draperies," found here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: The bold lines immediately strike me; there's a definite sense of power and defiance conveyed by the figure. Curator: Indeed. Lachaise's simplification of form emphasizes mass and volume. The economy of line is quite effective. Editor: I see echoes of the Venus of Willendorf in this portrayal. Is it a celebration of the female form or a perpetuation of unrealistic beauty standards? What about the role of the male gaze here? Curator: One could argue that Lachaise is less concerned with realism and more invested in the pure expression of sculptural form through drawing. Editor: Perhaps, but ignoring the historical context, the politics of representation, does a disservice to the work. Curator: Perhaps. Still, it is quite powerful. Editor: It certainly demands a conversation.