Artwork
Nude Model, Standing
Nude Model, Standing 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, Standing is a lithograph created by James McNeill Whistler around 1891, characterized by its emphasis on form and composition executed in brown on wove paper.
Subject & Meaning
The work depicts a standing figure from behind, rendered with minimal detail, reflecting Whistler's prioritization of aesthetic refinement over narrative or emotional content, aligning with the 'art for art's sake' principle.
Technique & Style
The lithograph features quick, loose, and uneven linework, with a focus on capturing the shape and movement of the body, suggesting its use as a rapid study for pose and form.
History & Provenance
Part of a series of figure studies by Whistler, this work bears his distinctive butterfly signature, though specific provenance details are not provided in the available information.
Context
Created during Whistler's activity in Britain as an American expatriate, the piece exemplifies his contribution to late 19th-century printmaking, emphasizing formal exploration over representational detail.
Legacy
While the broader impact of *Nude Model, Standing* on subsequent art movements or artists is not explicitly detailed, it contributes to the understanding of Whistler's practice in exploring the human form through printmaking.
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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