Sitzender Frauenakt nach rechts, aus _Der Mensch, der Schlaf und der Traum_ c. 1852 - 1854

Victor Müller created this pencil drawing, "Sitzender Frauenakt nach rechts, aus _Der Mensch, der Schlaf und der Traum_," in the 19th century. During this period, the female nude was a contentious symbol, embodying both ideal beauty and objectification. Müller's work operates within this duality, presenting the female form with a somewhat detached gaze. The drawing's unfinished quality and the woman's averted face might reflect an attempt to navigate away from traditional, idealized nudes towards a more modern depiction. Notice the woman’s posture; she is seated, looking down, seemingly lost in thought. Her posture can convey a sense of introspection, vulnerability, or perhaps even resistance to the traditional male gaze. Müller engages with the complex relationship between the artist, the model, and the viewer, while subtly questioning the established norms of his time. The drawing offers a glimpse into the changing attitudes toward the female figure in art, mirroring evolving societal perceptions of women.