Nude with Umbrella (Nu a l'ombrelle) 1924

Editor: This is Andre Dunoyer de Segonzac’s 1924 etching, *Nude with Umbrella*. The lines are so spare, almost frantic, yet they somehow convey both weight and fragility. How do you interpret this work? Curator: The umbrella, of course, immediately jumps out. Umbrellas, since their popularization in the 18th century, have always been about more than just protection from the elements. They symbolize status, power, and protection. Here, it’s almost shielding the nude, isn’t it? But what is she being shielded from? Is it prying eyes? Judgment? Editor: I hadn't considered it in that way. I was more focused on the somewhat awkward, vulnerable pose. Curator: Ah, yes, vulnerability is certainly a part of it. The pose, combined with the protective symbol of the umbrella, creates a curious tension. Think about classical depictions of the nude, often idealized and powerful. Segonzac gives us something rawer. A woman caught between worlds, seeking shelter not necessarily from rain, but perhaps from the expectations of beauty, class, or social decorum. It’s a strikingly modern dilemma, rendered with ancient symbolic tools. Editor: That makes so much sense! It’s like he’s using familiar visual language to talk about entirely new concerns. Curator: Precisely! What starts as a simple image unfolds to reveal the anxieties and contradictions of its time and possibly even ours. Editor: I’ll definitely look at Segonzac’s work differently now, knowing how those symbols can carry so much meaning. Curator: Me too. Thinking about it from your perspective has deepened my appreciation.