Seated Nude 1885

Paul Cézanne sketched this seated nude figure with graphite, possibly with watercolor, seeking to capture more than mere physical likeness. Her hunched posture, head bowed, is reminiscent of ancient depictions of melancholia. The melancholic figure appears throughout antiquity, often associated with deep thought, creativity, but also sorrow and introspection. We find it in the Greek concept of melancholy as a temperament linked to genius, or in medieval depictions of the grieving Mary Magdalene. Cézanne’s figure doesn't necessarily embody grief or suffering. Instead, she seems lost in contemplation, a universal pose of introspection. This posture resonates across centuries, reflecting our shared human capacity for profound thought and emotional depth, illustrating how artistic expressions continue to echo through time.