Female Nude with Journal (Femme nue au journal) 1924

Andre Dunoyer de Segonzac made this etching of a reclining nude, with journal, at some point in his career. The image speaks to the bohemian culture of Paris in the early to mid-20th century, when the nude was a dominant subject and artists saw themselves as free from middle-class constraints. Segonzac was active in a period when debates over the role of women in French society were headline news. Were they confined to the home, or active participants in political life? This image shows a nude woman relaxing with a journal, and thus hints at the intellectual life of the model. The image is a reminder that the nude is never just a neutral image. In this case it's an artwork made by a man, for consumption by a largely male audience. It thus offers a glimpse into the social norms of the time. As art historians, we can consult census data, newspapers, and other visual art to understand those norms better.