Artwork
Nude Model, Back View
Nude Model, Back View is an ink print by the Impressionist artist James McNeill Whistler. It dates from 1891 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Nude Model, Back View is a color lithograph on wove paper created by James McNeill Whistler in 1891. The work is characteristic of Whistler's emphasis on aesthetic refinement.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts a nude figure viewed from behind, standing in a relaxed pose with one arm resting on a low horizontal line. The focus is on the figure's form and composition, rather than on narrative or thematic content.
Technique & Style
The lithograph is executed in soft pink and brown tones, with a loose and rapid style that gives the impression of a quick study. The background is largely blank, drawing attention to the figure's shape.
History & Provenance
Whistler was an American expatriate active in Britain during the late 19th century, known for advocating 'art for art's sake' and rejecting sentimental or moralizing themes in his work.
Artist & collection
Artist
James Abbott McNeill Whistler was an American painter in oils and watercolor, and printmaker, active during the American Gilded Age and based primarily in the United Kingdom.
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