Artwork
Nude Drinking at a Fountain
Nude Drinking at a Fountain is a charcoal drawing by the Impressionist artist William Perkins Babcock. It dates from 1870 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
William Perkins Babcock’s drawing titled *Nude Drinking at a Fountain* was executed around 1870. Rendered in charcoal and black crayon on wove paper, the work presents a single figure in the act of drinking from a fountain, rendered in a monochrome drawing technique typical of the period.
Subject & Meaning
The composition focuses on a nude figure engaged in a quotidian gesture—sipping water from a fountain—suggesting themes of naturalism and the human body in everyday contexts. The lack of narrative detail directs attention to the study of form, posture, and the interaction of light and shadow on flesh.
Technique & Style
Babcock employed charcoal for broad tonal modeling and black crayon for finer line work, allowing a range of values that convey volume and texture. The use of wove paper provides a smooth surface that supports delicate shading, while the overall style reflects the 19th‑century academic drawing tradition.
History & Provenance
Created circa 1870, the drawing belongs to the later phase of Babcock’s career, a period when he produced numerous studies of the human figure. Its provenance prior to acquisition by the holding institution is not documented in the available records.
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