Artwork
Study of a Woman (Abundance)
Study of a Woman (Abundance) is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Pierre Puvis de Chavannes. It dates from 1895 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Study of a Woman (Abundance) is a lithograph created by Pierre Puvis de Chavannes in 1895. The work is a print on laid paper, executed in brown tone.
Subject & Meaning
The lithograph depicts a female figure, initially described as seated and draped in classical robes, though a related sketch shows her standing with loose hair and relaxed posture. The title suggests the figure represents Abundance, aligning with the artist's interest in allegorical themes.
Technique & Style
Puvis de Chavannes employed a restrained style, using simple brown tones and minimal detail to emphasize the figure's form and symbolic resonance. The loose, quick lines in related sketches reflect the artist's focus on capturing the subject's shape and movement, characteristic of practice studies.
History & Provenance
Pierre Puvis de Chavannes was a prominent figure in late 19th-century French art, known for his mural work and his role in the Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts. The lithograph dates to 1895, a period when the artist was engaged with allegorical and mural compositions.
Artist & collection
Artist
Pierre Puvis de Chavannes (French pronunciation: ; 14 December 1824 – 24 October 1898) was a French painter known for his mural painting, who came to be known as "the painter for France".
