Standing Female Nude 1871 - 1944

Aristide Maillol rendered this standing female nude in an undated charcoal drawing. Maillol was committed to the revival of classical forms through his paintings and sculptures, setting himself against the trends of abstraction that defined much of early 20th century art. Maillol’s art existed in a cultural context still grappling with how women were represented in art and society. Although he challenged prevailing artistic trends, his approach to the female nude carries the weight of art history, often framing women as objects of beauty and contemplation. His figures, however, possess a certain groundedness; they are robust and earthy rather than idealized or ethereal, as if he sought to depict women as strong and real. Maillol once said that he was driven by a desire to "return to simple forms." The emotional impact lies in the tension between traditional representation and the artist's attempts to instill his female figures with a sense of strength and presence.