Reclining female figure seen from below c. 1740 - 1750

Giovanni Battista Tiepolo rendered this study of a reclining female figure in pen and brown wash. The perspective gives a worm's eye view, which might initially unsettle our expectations. Notice how Tiepolo used the brown wash to create depth and shadow. The darker tones around the drapery anchor the figure, providing a sense of volume and weightlessness, contrasting with the lighter, more ethereal rendering of her face. This contrast is not merely decorative, it serves to highlight the tension between the material world and the realm of ideas. The deliberate lack of precise detail invites the viewer to participate in the act of creation. The semiotic potential here is immense: the woman's upward gaze, combined with her relaxed posture, can be interpreted as a signifier of longing, perhaps for spiritual transcendence. The drawing isn't just a representation of a reclining figure; it's an invitation to reflect on the nature of human desire, and the limits of perception.