Weiblicher sitzender Akt, daneben Bein- und Armstudien c. 1879

This sanguine drawing of a seated nude female, accompanied by studies of limbs, was created by Hans von Marées sometime during the 19th century. Marées, working amidst a period of great social change and artistic reform, was concerned with the representation of the human form and the search for an ideal beauty. His life experiences, including military service and struggles with artistic acceptance, shaped his vision and informed the emotional depth of his art. His nudes often evoke feelings of melancholy, hinting at the transient nature of beauty and life. In a letter Marées wrote that he desired his art to possess a 'soothing' effect on the viewer. While his work is rooted in classical traditions, Marées infused it with a personal, modern sensibility. Through his art he sought to offer a counter-narrative to the rapidly changing world around him. By contemplating this drawing we are invited to reflect on themes of identity, beauty, and the artist's own place in society.