Dimensions: 440 x 570 mm
Copyright: © The estate of Sir Jacob Epstein | CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 DEED, Photo: Tate
Curator: This drawing is by Sir Jacob Epstein, simply titled "Reclining Nude". You can find it here at the Tate. Editor: It feels like a study, almost dreamlike. There's something very raw and intimate about it. Curator: Epstein was known for his modernist sculptures, often causing public controversy. This drawing provides insight into his artistic process. Editor: The loose lines give a sense of movement, as if she's just drifted off to sleep. The shading, though simple, really accentuates the form. Curator: Nudes historically were a way for artists to assert control and power, but Epstein's portrayal feels less objectifying and more about observation. Editor: I think there's a vulnerability in the pose, a quiet defiance in her gaze, even with her eyes closed. It makes you wonder what she’s dreaming about. Curator: It's interesting to consider how Epstein’s works challenged the conventional views of the nude form in the early 20th century. Editor: Absolutely, this drawing whispers something about freedom and the beauty in imperfect form. A wonderful piece!
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Reclining Nude c.1928–31 is a small graphite drawing by the British artist Jacob Epstein that depicts a young female nude figure lying horizontally on a bed or sofa. The woman’s body is positioned so that her navel forms roughly the centre point of the composition, while her head occupies the upper left and her thighs slope down to the right. Her right arm is extended towards the floor and her left arm rests behind her back. The figure’s hair is curly and seems to be pinned to the top of her head, so that her long neck and shoulders are visible. Her large, almond-shaped eyes are either cast downward or closed. The background of the drawing, particularly along the edge of the soft furnishing on which she lies, is filled with thick, loose crosshatching, and parts of the sitter’s body, including her hair, pubic hair, nipples and navel are also rendered in heavier graphite, drawing the viewer’s attention towards them. The work was produced using a soft graphite pencil on off-white wove paper and is signed ‘Epstein’ in the bottom-right corner.
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