Staande naakte vrouw in een boslandschap met water c. 1846 - 1904

Henri Fantin-Latour created this drawing of a standing nude woman in a wooded landscape with water, using graphite, sometime in the late 19th century. Notice how Fantin-Latour masterfully plays with light and shadow to create depth and volume. The woman’s form emerges from the dark, textured background through delicate gradations of tone, highlighting the contrast between her luminous skin and the surrounding foliage. The composition directs our gaze upwards, focusing on the graceful pose of the figure, who seems caught in a moment of quiet contemplation, subtly destabilizing traditional figure drawing. The loose, expressive lines lend the drawing an ethereal quality, evoking a sense of intimacy. This contrasts with the woman’s solid, palpable presence, which further reinforces the interplay between realism and suggestion. This drawing challenges fixed interpretations, inviting viewers to engage with the artwork’s nuanced exploration of form, light, and the female nude within the landscape.