Artwork
Nude Girl Combing Her Hair
Nude Girl Combing Her Hair is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Paul-Albert Besnard. It dates from 1887 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Nude Girl Combing Her Hair is an 1887 etching on wove paper by Albert Besnard, depicting a female figure in a mundane, intimate moment.
Subject & Meaning
The subject, a woman standing sideways and combing her hair with both hands, conveys a sense of everyday life and quiet contemplation, her body partially turned away from the viewer.
Technique & Style
Besnard employed the roulette technique in etching, resulting in rough, uneven lines that evoke a sense of sketchiness and movement. The dark, textured background, suggested through vertical marks, adds to the overall tactile quality.
History & Provenance
Created in 1887, specific details regarding the print's provenance and exhibition history are not provided.
Context
The work reflects late 19th-century interests in capturing everyday moments and experimenting with etching techniques to achieve expressive, realistic effects.
Legacy
The legacy of 'Nude Girl Combing Her Hair' lies in its contribution to the evolution of etching techniques and its portrayal of serene, domestic scenes, characteristic of its time.
Artist & collection
Artist
Paul-Albert Besnard (1849–1934) was a French artist, born in 7th arrondissement of Paris.
Nude with Her Arms Raised (Le modèle nue les bras levés)
Nude with Her Arms Raised (Le modèle nue les bras levés)
Woman with a Vase (La femme au vase)
The Feathered Turban (Le turban à aigrette)
La Femme (frontispiece)
Eve
Passage of a Soul
After the Bath (La sortie du bain (Petite planche))
Woman at Her Toilette (La toilette)
Eve
Der Kuss (The Kiss)
Girl Fixing Her Hair