Artwork
Seated Nude Woman from the Back
Seated Nude Woman from the Back is a print by the Impressionist artist Jean-Louis Forain. It dates from 1910 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. Created around 1910, this print by French artist Jean Louis Forain presents a solitary female figure viewed from behind.
About this work
Overview
Created around 1910, this print by French artist Jean Louis Forain presents a solitary female figure viewed from behind. The work belongs to the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is displayed as part of the early‑twentieth‑century print holdings.
Subject & Meaning
The composition shows a woman seated with her back turned toward the viewer, her hair gathered in an up‑do and a white sheet loosely covering her shoulders and hips. Her relaxed posture and tranquil expression convey a quiet, introspective mood, inviting contemplation of the private moment captured in the image.
Technique & Style
Forain employs a subtle chiaroscuro, using light and shadow to model the figure’s form and to suggest depth against a muted background. The contrast between the luminous skin tones and the darker surroundings enhances the three‑dimensional quality of the seated nude, while the delicate handling of the drapery adds a sense of softness.
History & Provenance
The print was produced in the years surrounding 1910, a period when Forain was active in both painting and printmaking. It entered the Cleveland Museum of Art’s collection through acquisition (or donation) in the twentieth century, becoming a representative example of the artist’s work in the museum’s European prints department.
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.
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Nude Seated on a Bench with a Pillow (Woman Bathing Her Feet at a Brook)
Study of a Seated Female Nude
Nude Woman Seated on a Bed