Female nude (torso) from the front c. 1935

Aristide Maillol sketched this female nude with graphite on paper. Here, the artist presents us with the female form, an emblem deeply rooted in the collective memory of art history. The gentle curves and soft lines evoke classical sculptures of goddesses, recalling a lineage that stretches back to antiquity. Consider the Venus of Willendorf, a prehistoric fertility figure: both share an emphasis on the maternal form. Throughout time, the female nude has served as a canvas for cultural ideals, reflecting societal attitudes towards beauty, sexuality, and power. In Maillol's sketch, we see echoes of these historical interpretations, yet the simplicity of the lines suggests a modern sensibility, stripped of overt idealization. This is a form that resonates with both ancient archetypes and modern aesthetics, embodying a cyclical return to essential forms.