Naakte vrouw met half opgeheven armen, naar rechts 1878 - 1909

Charles Conder made this sketch of a nude woman with graphite on paper. Conder, who died in 1909, was working in a milieu which expected artists to undertake preparatory life drawings, but this sketch is also interesting for what it tells us about the representation of women in art and society more generally. What visual codes are being used here, and what do they signify? It's worth noting the classical allusions, the pose reminiscent of ancient sculpture, and the carefully arranged hair. These things tell us something about the social and institutional context of the artwork. The sketch might be thought of as 'progressive' in its naturalistic depiction of the female body, but also conservative in its reliance on historical tropes. More generally, the drawing raises interesting questions about the public role of art at the time. Historians can consult exhibition records, personal letters and other documentary material to illuminate the complex relationship between art, institutions, and society.