Liggende nøgen kvinde 1910 - 1914

This reclining nude by Aristide Maillol is small, just 20 cm high. I wonder how long he spent coaxing that figure out of clay? There's a tension between stillness and life here, she's lounging but alert. Her hand is raised, her gaze steady. She seems to be waiting, or watching, for something. I can imagine Maillol studying his model in this very pose, turning around the body slowly, feeling his way into the form. I wonder how long she held the pose? Her body is simplified and idealized, so the details are smoothed away, it’s all subtle curves and clean lines. It reminds me of other artists, like Renoir, who were also fascinated by the female form and used it to explore ideas about beauty, sensuality, and the relationship between humans and nature. These artists are all in conversation with one another through time, constantly pushing each other in new and interesting directions. And it's this ambiguity and openness that makes art so compelling and endlessly fascinating.