Three female figures 1991

Arnold Peter Weisz-Kubínčan made this pen and ink drawing of three female figures at an unknown date. Given the artist's dates, we know that he was working in the first half of the 20th century, in a region that was being heavily influenced by the expressionist movement. The loose, gestural lines and the focus on raw emotion are consistent with expressionist ideals. The choice of subject matter, three nude female figures, is a classical one, however. The tension between classical subject and modern style might tell us something about the artist's relationship to the institutions of art in his time. Was he trained classically, and then found himself drawn to more modern modes of expression? As historians, we can use archival records from art schools, exhibition catalogues, and critical reviews to better understand the artistic and social context of this drawing. In doing so, we can better appreciate art as something that is deeply embedded in its time.