Standing Female Nude Facing Right 1935

Aristide Maillol made this drawing, "Standing Female Nude Facing Right," using graphite on paper. Maillol was working at the turn of the 20th century. His focus on the female nude was a conscious attempt to return to classical forms, moving away from the more psychologically charged and often distorted representations of the body that were in vogue at the time. The woman here is solid and monumental, yet there's also a tenderness, an intimacy, in the way Maillol captures the soft curves of her body. She seems caught in a private moment, holding the edge of her garment. This work embodies the male gaze, yet I find myself drawn to the subject’s quiet self-possession and how this counters traditional, passive representations of women. Consider how the artist encourages an appreciation for the female form, while subtly challenging the viewer’s expectations of it. It is in this balance that the drawing achieves its subtle, lasting power.