Stehender weiblicher Akt in Rückansicht 

Editor: Here we have "Stehender weiblicher Akt in Ruckansicht", or "Standing Female Nude, Rear View," a pencil drawing on paper by Charles Despiau. It has such a gentle quality with its simple lines. What can you tell us about it? Curator: I'm immediately drawn to the artist's labor, the repetitive strokes required to build form. Despiau clearly valued process; the materiality of the pencil on paper emphasizes this. Was this study intended for sculpture, perhaps? If so, how does the change in material—from graphite to bronze, say—impact its meaning and accessibility? Editor: That's interesting. I was just focusing on the figure, but you're right, you can see the artist's hand so clearly in the repeated lines. What impact do you think that has on the art itself? Curator: The repetitive nature, to me, moves it beyond just a sketch into something that emphasizes the production and labor that creates a finalized work of art. Despiau transforms a typical life drawing into something that acknowledges its process. Considering the paper as a resource also adds to the discussion of material consumption. Editor: I never thought about a drawing in terms of consumption before! How does that affect how you interpret the final image? Curator: It suggests to me that even the simplest drawings, through the choices made about the medium, can expose the network of labour and raw materials that underpin our society and visual culture. Perhaps the work, or the artist’s intention, is commenting on something like how many “raw materials” went into producing this object and also making us see an art object in general through this production oriented mindset. Editor: I can see that. Thank you for providing such a different lens for analyzing the drawing. Curator: Of course! It is always exciting to uncover layers of meaning by emphasizing the processes that bring it to life.