Artwork
Femme nue passant sa chemise (Nude Woman Taking Off Her Chemise)
Femme nue passant sa chemise (Nude Woman Taking Off Her Chemise) is an ink print by Jean-Louis Forain. It dates from 1910 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Created circa 1910, this drypoint print by French artist Jean‑Louis Forain portrays a solitary woman in the act of shedding her chemise.
About this work
Overview
Executed on laid paper, the image captures a fleeting, private gesture, presenting the figure from behind with her back turned toward the viewer.
Created circa 1910, this drypoint print by French artist Jean‑Louis Forain portrays a solitary woman in the act of shedding her chemise. Executed on laid paper, the image captures a fleeting, private gesture, presenting the figure from behind with her back turned toward the viewer. The composition is spare, focusing attention on the delicate movement of the body rather than on surrounding details.
Subject & Meaning
The work illustrates an intimate, everyday moment—a woman lifting her garment over her shoulders—reflecting the Impressionist interest in contemporary life and the unposed scenes of modernity. By emphasizing the quiet, personal act, the print invites contemplation of vulnerability and the ordinary, aligning with the period’s tendency to elevate mundane experiences to artistic subjects.
Technique & Style
Forain employed drypoint, incising the image directly into a metal plate before printing on laid paper. The method yields soft, velvety lines and subtle gradations of tone, which render the figure’s contours with a gentle, almost tactile quality. The minimal background and restrained shading enhance the sense of depth while maintaining the intimate focus on the nude form.
History & Provenance
Jean‑Louis Forain, known for his versatility across oils, watercolors, pastels, etchings, and lithographs, produced this print during a period of commercial success. Though his reputation has receded relative to some of his Impressionist contemporaries, works such as this exemplify his proficiency in printmaking and his engagement with the era’s visual culture.
Artist & collection
Artist
Jean-Louis Forain (French pronunciation: ; 23 October 1852 – 11 July 1931) was a French Impressionist painter and printmaker, working in media including oils, watercolour, pastel, etching and lithograph.
The Dead Man (Der tote Mann)
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After the Bath: Woman Drying Herself
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Sur le lit (On the Bed)
Study of a Woman, Viewed from the Back (Étude de femme vue de dos)
Seated Nude Woman from the Back
Susanna im Bade (Susanna in the Bath)
Akt mit hochgehobenem Hemd (Woman Undressing)
Weary