Reveil 1918

Herbert James Draper created "Reveil", which means "awakening" in French. Draper was active in a period when academic art still held sway, yet artists were beginning to push its boundaries. This painting offers a glimpse into the late Victorian era’s complex relationship with the female form. Draper’s work often depicted idealized, nude figures, drawing from classical mythology. However, these representations existed within a society grappling with evolving notions of gender and sexuality. The women depicted are set within a dark surrounding, yet are bathed in light, which illuminates their nudity. The gaze is not simply about the male consumption of the female body; it also suggests a moment of recognition and self-awareness. The woman standing appears as though she has been woken from sleep, while the kneeling woman is still reaching out for something in the darkness. The artist plays with this moment of transition, and the complex feelings this incites. "Reveil" captures a moment of transition and awareness, reflecting both the beauty and the challenges inherent in representing the human figure at a time of shifting social values.