Sitzende Hebe als Aktfigur, in der linken erhobenen Hand eine Weinschale haltend c. 1860

This study of a seated nude figure with a wine bowl was drawn by Victor Müller. It's rendered in graphite, a medium made of powdered carbon, on paper. The artist has skillfully exploited the soft, malleable quality of graphite to create the different tones in the work, capturing the subtle nuances of light and shadow on the figure's skin. Graphite lends itself well to preparatory drawings like this one. It allows for easy corrections and adjustments, a quality Müller seems to have exploited here, given the multiple studies of the figure's arm. The drawing is a testament to Müller's command of traditional techniques. It's also evocative of his cultural context: the nineteenth century, when academic training still prized life drawing. The extensive process of drawing from life was central to an artist’s formation, and the countless hours of labor invested in such studies was a display of skill. Understanding the materials, the techniques, and their cultural significance is essential to appreciating the work's full meaning.