Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a drawing by Pierre Puvis de Chavannes. It dates from 1850 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. The drawing consists of two half‑length studies of a young woman presented side by side.
About this work
Overview
The drawing consists of two half‑length studies of a young woman presented side by side. In the left panel the figure rests her weight on her left arm, while the right panel shows a profile view. Both images are rendered in a light brown tone with visible pencil lines and gentle shading, indicating a preparatory sketch rather than a finished composition.
Subject & Meaning
The right profile presents the hair gathered into a bun, offering a more composed and perhaps introspective aspect.
Both studies focus on a single female subject, captured from slightly different angles. The left figure displays long, flowing hair and a draped garment, suggesting a relaxed, informal pose. The right profile presents the hair gathered into a bun, offering a more composed and perhaps introspective aspect. The juxtaposition allows the artist to explore variations in posture and expression within a single sitter.
Technique & Style
Executed with graphite on paper, the drawing employs subtle cross‑hatching and tonal shading to model the forms. The light brown hue results from a wash or toned paper, while the underlying pencil marks remain visible, revealing the artist’s process of building volume and contour. The handling of line and shade demonstrates a careful study of anatomy and fabric texture.
Context
As a preparatory work, the piece likely served as a reference for a larger composition or portrait. The emphasis on capturing the sitter’s silhouette and drapery aligns with academic drawing practices, where multiple studies are produced to refine posture, lighting, and facial features before committing to a final artwork.
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".
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Figure Studies [verso]
Untitled
Three Sketches of a Standing Woman
Head of a Woman in a Scarf, Looking Down
Three Groups of Dancers
Two Seated Women (verso)
Profile of a Woman's Head (recto) A Kitchen Maid (verso)
Two Seated Ladies
Four Studies of a Seated Woman with Children at Her Feet (Sketches for the Monument to Lady FitzHarris?)
Head of a Young Woman
Young Woman from Valence