Nude Women in a Landscape c. 1870

Editor: Here we have Hans von Marées' "Nude Women in a Landscape." No date is listed, but it strikes me as something from the late 19th century. The figures are so somber, almost classical in their repose. What do you make of this curious scene? Curator: Somber is right! It’s as if Marées is painting a memory fading at the edges. The nymphs seem lost in thought, or perhaps banished from a more vibrant world. Look how the light struggles to penetrate the heavy foliage. Do you feel a sense of longing? Editor: Absolutely. A longing for something just out of reach. The woman on the right almost looks as if she is looking back into the past. Curator: Exactly! Perhaps Marées is mourning a lost ideal, using the female nude not for titillation, but for reflection. It’s a wistful, almost melancholic, vision of beauty, isn't it? Editor: It is, and a different take than I would have expected on this subject matter. Thanks for sharing your perspective. Curator: My pleasure. I am glad we could share this experience together.