Artwork
Nine Figures
Nine Figures is a graphite drawing by Arthur Bowen Davies. It dates from 1921 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1921, *Nine Figures* is a drawing executed with watercolor and graphite on laid paper that has been affixed to a paperboard support. The composition presents a series of nine nude women positioned in a loosely ordered line, some standing, others kneeling or seated, against an unadorned, light‑toned background.
Subject & Meaning
The work focuses on the human form, portraying a range of skin tones and varied hairstyles that suggest individuality within a collective arrangement. By simplifying details and emphasizing silhouette, the artist invites contemplation of the bodies as both distinct entities and components of a unified visual rhythm.
Technique & Style
Davies combined the fluid transparency of watercolor with the precise line work of graphite, applying both to laid paper—a textured surface that lends subtle grain to the image. The figures are rendered with minimal modeling, relying on flat washes of color and restrained shading to convey volume.
History & Provenance
Arthur B. Davies, an American painter active in the early twentieth century, produced the piece during a period when he championed modernist ideas in the United States. The drawing reflects his interest in merging representational content with a stylized, almost decorative approach characteristic of his later output.
Artist & collection
Artist
Arthur Bowen Davies (September 26, 1862 – October 24, 1928) was an avant-garde American artist and influential advocate of modern art in the United States c. 1910–1928.
