Artwork
Standing Nude
Standing Nude is a chalk drawing by Max Klinger. It dates from 1914 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1914, *Standing Nude* is a drawing by German artist Max Klinger. Executed with black chalk and gouache on brown paper, the work presents a single female figure rendered in a swift, sketch‑like manner. The composition captures the model in a three‑dimensional pose, emphasizing the interplay of light and shadow across her form.
Subject & Meaning
The drawing portrays a standing woman with her hands placed on her hips, her torso turned slightly away from the viewer. Her hair falls in loose curls, and the pose suggests a quiet confidence. The nude figure recurs throughout Klinger’s output, reflecting his ongoing interest in the human body as a vehicle for exploring form and psychological presence.
Technique & Style
Klinger combines the dry, linear qualities of black chalk with the opaque, matte washes of gouache, allowing both delicate line work and broader tonal areas. The brown paper provides a warm ground that moderates the soft pinks and tans of the flesh tones. Quick, gestural strokes convey musculature, while subtle shading creates volume without fully resolving the surface.
Context
At the time of its creation, Klinger was linked to Symbolist ideas and the Vienna Secession, movements that emphasized personal expression and decorative aesthetics. His practice spanned painting, sculpture, printmaking, and literature, situating *Standing Nude* within a broader interdisciplinary career that engaged with the emerging Jugendstil (Art Nouveau) sensibility.
History & Provenance
The drawing remains documented as part of Klinger’s late period, produced shortly before his death in 1920. It is recorded in catalogues of his works and has been exhibited in surveys of early‑20th‑century German drawing, though specific ownership details are limited in public records.
Artist & collection
Artist
Max Klinger (18 February 1857 – 5 July 1920) was a German artist who produced significant work in painting, sculpture, prints and graphics, as well as writing a treatise articulating his ideas on art and the role of…
